A generalized Coulomb logarithm for strongly coupled plasmas

TL;DR

This paper introduces a generalized Coulomb logarithm for strongly coupled plasmas, accounting for correlation effects and large-angle collisions, improving the accuracy of transport coefficient calculations in these regimes.

Contribution

It derives a generalized Coulomb logarithm that transitions smoothly from weak to strong coupling, incorporating correlation effects and large-angle collision impacts.

Findings

The generalized Coulomb logarithm asymptotes to ln(Λ) in weak coupling.

It shows significant modifications for Λ ≲ 100 due to correlation effects.

Attractive collisions can lead to larger values of the generalized logarithm than repulsive ones.

Abstract

Transport coefficients for Coulomb collision processes, e.g., friction, energy exchange, and resistivity, are calculated for Debye-screened (Yukawa) plasmas including correlation effects within the binary collision approximation. A generalized Coulomb logarithm, $\Xi(\Lambda)$, is required, which asymptotes to $\ln \Lambda$ in the weakly coupled limit, but is significantly modified when $\Lambda \lesssim 10^2$ due to large angle collisions. In the regime $10^{-2} \lesssim \Lambda \lesssim 10^2$, $\Xi$ can be substantially larger for attractive collisions than repulsive.