Theory for Ion Transport in Ultracold and High Energy Density Plasmas

This talk will review a recent example where synergies between ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) and high energy density plasmas (HEDP) were used to advance both fields. A common challenge is to understand how strong Coulomb coupling of ions influences transport properties in a neutral plasma. We recently developed a theory (EPT) that extends Landau-Spitzer theory into the strongly coupled regime [1]. It uses the radial distribution function as input. The theory was tested in UNP experiments [2], and found to accurately predict ion transport coefficients. It was later applied to HEDP systems by using a model for the ion radial distribution function that accounts for degenerate electrons in dense plasmas [3]. The predictions were tested over a variety of conditions relevant to HEDP experiments using quantum molecular dynamics simulations [4]. Similar good agreement was found. This illustrates an example where knowledge gained from tabletop UCP experiments directly advanced understanding of dense HED plasmas. [1] Baalrud and Daligault, PRL 110, 235001 (2013). [2] Strickler, et al, PRX 6, 021021 (2016). [3] Starrett and Saumon, PRE 87, 013104 (2013). [4] Daligault, et al., PRL 116, 075002 (2016).