Smilei's interpretation of a non-integer charge state

[hwlr0]

Hi!

In the context of a ps laser interacting with a CH target, I am using the output of a hydro code as an input for Smilei. This hydro code gives me, among other useful informations, the average charge state of carbon atoms within any cell (hydro code cell). Thus I am able to give Smilei a map of this average state of charge for each position by using it as a charge profile in the Species creation block.

This number being an average state of charge, it is not an integer and varies between 0 and 6. Rounding the number and using that as a profile in Smilei of course works; but I also tried to input directly the average numbers. Smilei accepts those, however I could not find any detail in the documentation about how Smilei interprets these non-integer values: what does Smilei do, for example, when the average state of charge is 4.3?

[mccoys]

Hi, In that situation, the charge is split between particles of charge 4 and 5

[hwlr0]

Ok, thank you very much for your answer!