Electrical Conductivity of Non-ideal Plasmas and the Ion Distribution Function

The theory of electrical conductivity of electron-ion-systems is developed for a density region which reaches from the region of non-ideal plasmas up to the region of liquid metals. The conductivity is expressed by quantum mechanical correlation functions. Different forms of the electron-ion pseudopotentials are considered. The ion distribution function is derived using the mean spherical approximation (MSA) theory or the nonlinear Debye-theory. Higher order scattering effects are treated by introducing scattering phase shifts for the statically screened electron-ion potential. The numerical results for the conductivity show a SPITZER-like behaviour in the low-density non-degenerate limit where higher order scattering is important, and a ZIMAN-like behaviour in the strongly degenerate high-density limit where the ion distribution functions and the form of the electron-ion pseudopotential become more important.