Correlation Effects on the Temperature Relaxation Rates in Dense Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive model for electron-ion temperature relaxation in dense plasmas, accounting for screening, degeneracy, and correlations, validated against simulations and applied to dense hydrogen.

Contribution

The model uniquely combines screening, degeneracy, and correlation effects self-consistently, providing accurate relaxation rates across various plasma conditions.

Findings

Correlation effects are crucial in classical plasmas at all densities.

Quantum diffraction effects dominate in dense hydrogen plasmas.

Model validation shows good agreement with molecular dynamics simulations.

Abstract

We present a model for the rate of temperature relaxation between electrons and ions in plasmas. The model includes self-consistently the effects of particle screening, electron degeneracy and correlations between electrons and ions. We successfully validate the model over a wide range of plasma coupling against molecular-dynamics simulations of classical plasma of like-charged electrons and ions. We present calculations of the relaxation rates in dense hydrogen and show that, while electron-ion correlation effects are indispensable in classical, like-charged plasmas at any density and temperature, quantum diffraction effects prevail over e-i correlation effects in dense hydrogen plasmas.