Abstract
Measurements are reported of the electrical conductivity of dense copper and aluminum plasmas in the temperature range 10–30 kK, in a density range from about one-fifth solid density down to . Plasmas were created by rapid vaporization of metal wires in a water bath. At temperatures below about 15 kK, as density decreases from the highest values measured, the conductivity falls roughly as the cube of density, reaches a minimum, and subsequently rises to approach the Spitzer prediction at low density. This minimum is not seen for temperatures above about 20 kK. These results are compared with several theoretical predictions.
- Received 10 November 1997
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.57.5945
©1998 American Physical Society