Transport coefficients for dense metal plasmas

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Thermoelectric transport coefficients are crucial for understanding energy conversion in materials.
• Previous work established linear response theory for electrical conductivity in Al and Cu plasmas.
• Metal plasmas under rapid wire evaporation conditions present unique challenges for theoretical modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate thermoelectric transport coefficients (electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and thermopower) for metal plasmas.
• To validate theoretical models against experimental data for a range of plasma conditions.
• To investigate the influence of higher ionization stages on plasma properties.

Main Methods:

• Linear response theory applied to metal plasmas.
• Calculation of plasma composition considering ionization stages up to 5+ via mass action laws.
• Treatment of charged particle interactions using the T-matrix approximation.

Main Results:

• Electrical conductivity calculations show reasonable agreement with experimental data for various metal plasmas.
• Thermal conductivity and thermopower values are provided for relevant experimental conditions.
• The model was validated against experimental data up to 25 eV and liquid-like densities.

Conclusions:

• The employed theoretical framework accurately describes thermoelectric transport in metal plasmas.
• The results provide valuable data for understanding and optimizing rapid wire evaporation processes.
• The study highlights the importance of considering higher ionization stages in dense plasmas.