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MOLECULAR DYNAMICS AND VIRIAL EXPANSIONS FOR EQUILIBRIUM
THERMODYNAMICS IN THE SOLAR INTERIOR
by
Kathleen Anita Mussack
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(PHYSICS)
August 2007
Copyright 2007 Kathleen Anita Mussack
Object Description
| Title | Molecular dynamics and virial expansions for equilibrium thermodynamics in the solar interior |
| Author | Mussack, Kathleen Anita |
| Author email | mussack@usc.edu |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | Physics |
| School | College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
| Date defended/completed | 2007-05-07 |
| Date submitted | 2007 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2007-06-19 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Däppen, Werner |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Haas, Stephan Kalia, Rajiv Kunc, Joseph A. Warner, Nicholas P. |
| Abstract | In the deep solar interior, matter is mostly fully ionized. Precise helioseismic and neutrino data provide an incredibly accurate description of the Sun. The established MHD and OPAL equations of state do not match the solar data to the available precision. A rigorous quantum-statistical formalism for Coulomb systems is used to develop new tools for equation of state modeling. Although the formalism is in principle a low-density development, the relevant parameters allow the formalism to be applied in the solar center. Solar models can also be improved through the study of nuclear reaction rates. The Coulomb potentials in the ionized plasma are screened, effectively truncating the interactions. This screening makes it easier for ions to tunnel through the potential barrier. In a seminal paper, Salpeter (1954) discussed this enhancement. He based his study on the approximation of a static screening potential. There is a legitimate concern that dynamic effects could alter the result. Since 1996, Shaviv and Shaviv have been examining this question by numerical molecular-dynamics simulations. The calculation is essentially classical, although electrons are treated with effective potentials to mimic some quantum corrections. Shaviv and Shaviv have reported dynamical effects for the fast protons which are the ions that are most likely to engage in nuclear reactions. Given the importance of these effects for solar and stellar modeling, molecular-dynamics simulations have been developed to verify the results of Shaviv and Shaviv in an independent calculation. These studies of hot, dense plasmas will help develop more accurate solar models. |
| Keyword | molecular dynamics; solar model; virial expansions; screening; equation of state; hot, dense plasma |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m534 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Mussack, Kathleen Anita |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Mussack-20070619 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume14/etd-Mussack-20070619.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 1 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | MOLECULAR DYNAMICS AND VIRIAL EXPANSIONS FOR EQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS IN THE SOLAR INTERIOR by Kathleen Anita Mussack A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHYSICS) August 2007 Copyright 2007 Kathleen Anita Mussack |
