We present extensive new Ab initio path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulations of the uniform electron gas (UEG) in the high-temperature regime, 8≤θ=kBT/EF≤128. This allows us to study the convergence of different properties towards the classical limit. In particular, we investigate the classical relation between the static structure factor S(q) and the static local field correction G(q), which is only fulfilled at low densities. Moreover, we compare our new results for the interaction energy to the parametrization of the UEG by Groth et al. (2017), which interpolates between PIMC results for θ≤8 and the Debye–Hückel limit, and to higher order analytical virial expansions. Finally, we consider the momentum distribution function n(q) and find an interaction-induced increase in the occupation of the zero-momentum state even for θ≳32. All PIMC data are freely available online, and can be used as input for improved parametrizations and as a rigorous benchmark for approximate methods.

The modeling of non-local-thermodynamic-equilibrium plasmas is crucial for many aspects of high-energy-density physics. It often requires collisional–radiative models coupled with radiative-hydrodynamics simulations. Therefore, there is a strong need for fast and as accurate as possible calculations of the cross-sections and rates of the different collisional and radiative processes. We present an analytical approach for the computation of the electron-impact excitation (EIE) cross-sections in the Plane Wave Born (PWB) approximation. The formalism relies on the screened hydrogenic model. The EIE cross-section is expressed in terms of integrals, involving spherical Bessel functions, which can be calculated analytically. In order to remedy the fact that the PWB approximation is not correct at low energy (near threshold), we consider different correcting factors (Elwert–Sommerfeld, Cowan–Robb, Kilcrease–Brookes). We also investigate the role of plasma density effects such as Coulomb screening and quantum degeneracy on the EIE rate. This requires to integrate the collision strength multiplied by the Fermi–Dirac distribution and the Pauli blocking factor. We show that, using an analytical fit often used in collisional–radiative models, the EIE rate can be calculated accurately without any numerical integration, and compare our expression with a correction factor presented in a recent work.

In recent years, laser peening technique has been used for the purpose of improving the fatigue strength of metal materials. However, the compressive residual stress field created by laser peening has characteristic differences in the stress value and the thickness of the stress field layer compared to conventional technologies. We conducted experiments to clarify the peening mechanism of metals when irradiated with nanosecond laser pulses. Austenite stainless steel was irradiated with a laser pulse of 2.5 ns, and the compressive residual stress inside the recovered sample was examined by x-ray diffraction. Using the dislocation density model, we analyzed the experimental results and showed that the residual stress field due to the nanosecond laser can be explained by the local stress generated by the shock wave.