A review on equations of state at high densities based on Thomas–Fermi and related models

Abstract

In recent years there has been considerable effort to understand the equation of state (EOS) of materials, particularly at high pressures and temperatures. Such studies have direct applications in the laser fusion problem where materials are subjected to radiation induced shock waves which compress material to over 100 times the normal density at temperatures up to 100 million degrees (e.g. Hora 1981). Among the various models which describe the electronic thermodynamic functions in highly compressed matter, the Thomas–Fermi model is the one most often used in hydrodynamic codes, e.g. in the simulation of the inertial confinement fusion problem.