Electrical Conductivity of Weakly Coupled Plasmas Using the Electric Field Auto‐Correlation Function

ABSTRACT In this work, we investigate the electrical conductivity of weakly coupled hydrogen plasma using the electric field autocorrelation function (EACF). The EACF is evaluated from an effective interaction potential that includes electron‐ion, electron–electron, and electron‐background interactions. For weakly coupled plasmas, the electron‐ion interaction is described by the Debye‐screened potential. The velocity autocorrelation function (VACF) is also calculated. The electrical conductivity investigated using the EACF and VACF, respectively, in the electron‐density range from 10 22 to 10 25 m −3 , is compared with the Lorentz model, the Spitzer theory, and a quantum‐statistical approach. Good agreement is obtained with the Lorentz model. Results indicate that the EACF provides a reliable alternative to the VACF for calculating the electrical conductivity of weakly coupled hydrogen plasmas due to its faster relaxation time.