Constraining heat-transport models by comparison to experimental data in a NIF hohlraum

The accurate simulation of hohlraum plasma conditions is important for predicting the partition of energy and the symmetry of the x-ray field within a hohlraum. Electron heat transport within the hohlraum plasma is difficult to model due to the complex interaction of kinetic plasma effects, magnetic fields, laser-plasma interactions, and microturbulence. Here, we report simulation results using the radiation-hydrodynamic code, HYDRA, utilizing various physics packages (e.g., nonlocal Schurtz model [1], MHD, flux limiters) and compare to data from hohlraum plasma experiments which contain a Mn-Co tracer dot [2]. In these experiments, the dot is placed in various positions in the hohlraum in order to assess the spatial variation of plasma conditions. Simulated data is compared to a variety of experimental diagnostics. Conclusions are given concerning how the experimental data does and does not constrain the physics models examined. [1] G. P. Schurtz et al., Phys. Plasmas 7, 4238 (2000). [2] M. A. Barrios Garcia, et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 056307 (2016).