Internal versus external conductivity of a dense plasma: many-particle theory and simulations

Optical conductivity of warm dense matter within a wide frequency range using quantum statistical and kinetic approaches

Fundamental properties of warm dense matter are described by the dielectric function, which gives access to the frequency-dependent electrical conductivity; absorption, emission, and scattering of radiation; charged particles stopping; and further macroscopic properties. Different approaches to the dielectric function and the related dynamical collision frequency are compared in a wide frequency range. The high-frequency limit describing inverse bremsstrahlung and the low-frequency limit of the dc conductivity are considered. Sum rules and Kramers-Kronig relation are checked for the generalized linear response theory and the standard approach following kinetic theory. The results are discussed in application to aluminum, xenon, and argon plasmas.

Dielectric function of dense plasmas, their stopping power, and sum rules

Mathematical, particularly, asymptotic properties of the random-phase approximation, Mermin approximation, and extended Mermin-type approximation of the coupled plasma dielectric function are analyzed within the method of moments. These models are generalized for two-component plasmas. Some drawbacks and advantages of the above models are pointed out. The two-component plasma stopping power is shown to be enhanced with respect to that of the electron fluid.

Spatially resolved dynamic structure factor of finite systems from molecular dynamics simulations

The dynamical response of metallic clusters up to 10(3) atoms is investigated using the restricted molecular dynamics simulations scheme. Exemplarily, a sodium like material is considered. Correlation functions are evaluated to investigate the spatial structure of collective electron excitations and the optical response of laser-excited clusters. In particular, the spectrum of bilocal correlation functions shows resonances representing different modes of collective excitations inside the nano plasma. The spatial structure, the resonance energy, and the width of the eigenmodes have been investigated for various values of electron density, temperature, cluster size, and ionization degree. Comparison with bulk properties is performed and the dispersion relation of collective excitations is discussed.

Single-particle spectral function for the classical one-component plasma

The spectral function for an electron one-component plasma is calculated self-consistently using the GW;{(0)} approximation for the single-particle self-energy. In this way, correlation effects that go beyond the mean-field description of the plasma are contained, i.e., the collisional damping of single-particle states, the dynamical screening of the interaction, and the appearance of collective plasma modes. Second, a nonperturbative analytic solution for the on-shell GW;{(0)} self-energy as a function of momentum is presented. It reproduces the numerical data for the spectral function with a relative error of less than 10% in the regime where the Debye screening parameter is smaller than the inverse Bohr radius, kappa<1a_{B};{-1} . In the limit of low density, the nonperturbative self-energy behaves as n;{14} , whereas a perturbation expansion leads to the unphysical result of a density-independent self-energy [Fennel and Wilfer, Ann. Phys. (Leipzig) 32, 265 (1974)]. The derived expression will greatly facilitate the calculation of observables in correlated plasmas (transport properties, equation of state) that need the spectral function as an input quantity. This is demonstrated for the shift of the chemical potential, which is computed from the analytical formulas and compared to the GW;{(0)} result. At a plasma temperature of 100eV and densities below 10;{21}cm;{-3} , the two approaches deviate by less than 10% from each other.

Molecular dynamics simulations of optical conductivity of dense plasmas

The optical conductivity sigma (omega) for dense Coulomb systems is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations on the basis of pseudopotentials to mimic quantum effects. Starting from linear response theory, the response in the long-wavelength limit k=0 can be expressed by different types of autocorrelation functions (ACF's) such as the current ACF, the force ACF, or the charge density ACF. Consistent simulation data for transverse as well as longitudinal ACF's are shown which are based on calculations with high numerical accuracy. Results are compared with perturbation expansions which are restricted to small values of the plasma parameter. The relevance with respect to a quantum Coulomb plasma is discussed. Finally, results are presented showing a consistent description of these model plasmas in comparison to quantum statistical approaches and to experimental data.