Thermal conduction in strongly coupled plasmas: especially liquid alkali metals

Abstract

In earlier work, we have noted on semi-empirical grounds that the electrical conductivity σ in strongly coupled plasmas can be written as a linear form σ=σ0Γ in terms of the usual plasma coupling parameter Γ. Here, this is combined with the Wiedemann–Franz law to yield a zeroth-order treatment of thermal conductivity κ in such strongly coupled plasmas. Some refinement is needed to explain the properties of the heavier liquid alkali metals beginning with Na. This refinement follows from the nearly free-electron theory of electrical resistivity ρ=σ−1. Finally, a relation is forged between ρ, κ and the shear viscosity η at the freezing point of liquid alkali metals.