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Center for Nonlinear Studies

Zachary Johnson

CNLS Postdoctoral Research Associate
XCP-5

Strongly coupled plasma physics

Office: TA-3, Bldg 1690, Room 136
Mail Stop: B258
Email: zjohnson@lanl.gov

Research highlight

My primary interest is in the theoretical and computational modeling of transport properties of electrons and ions in dense plasmas. I use methods such as density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and kinetics to capture strong coupling and degeneracy effects in these plasmas. I am particularly interested in the role of non-equilibrium behavior and electron-electron scattering and correlation effects.

Talks at CNLS:

Oct 23rd, 2025 - Postdoc Seminar: Charge Particle Energy Transport in Inertial Confinement Fusion Plasmas with the Average Atom

Educational Background/Employment:

BS Physics (2017), University of California, Santa Barbara
PhD Physics (2022), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Employment:
- 2022-2025: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Michigan State University

Research Interests:

Electron and ion transport properties
Warm dense matter and high energy density plasmas
Density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and kinetics
Non-equilibrium plasmas

Google Scholar

Selected Recent Publications:

L. G. Silvestri, Z. A. Johnson, and M. S. Murillo. Adaptive equilibration of molecular dynamics simulations (2025) 10.48550/arXiv.2505.04362
Z. A. Johnson, N. R. Shaffer, and M. S. Murillo. Quantum Ornstein-Zernike theory for two-temperature two-component plasmas (2024) 10.48550/arXiv.2411.02363
Z. A. Johnson, L. G. Silvestri, G. M. Petrov, L. G. Stanton, and M. S. Murillo. Comparison of transport models in dense plasmas (2024) 10.1063/5.0204226