Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations of electron-ion temperature relaxation in a classical Coulomb plasma

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate temperature relaxation between electrons and ions in a fully ionized, classical Coulomb plasma with minimal assumptions. Recombination is avoided by using like charges. The relaxation rate is in excellent agreement with theory in the weak coupling limit (g $\equiv $ potential/kinetic energy $<<$ 1) whereas it saturates at g $>$ 1 due to correlation effects. The `Coulomb log' is found to be independent of the ion charge and mass ratio $>$ 25.