Equation of state of partially-ionized dense plasmas

Conference · Thu Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5178034

Rogers, F J

This paper describes methods for calculating the equation of state of partially-ionized dense plasmas. The term dense plasma is used rather than strongly coupled plasma, since it is possible that at plasma conditions such that only a few levels can be observed spectroscopically the plasma coupling parameters are not large. Due mainly to their importance in theoretical astrophysics, the properties of partially ionized plasmas have been of interest for a long while. More recently, this interest has intensified due to the development of methods for producing partially ionized plasmas in the laboratory. This has opened up large programs of experimental investigation and of practical application. In this paper we consider detailed statistical mechanical methods that explicitly treat the distribution over ionic species and their energy level structure. These detailed approaches are generally characterized as being in the chemical picture'' when a free energy expression is minimized or in the physical picture'' when the starting point is the grand canonical ensemble. 52 refs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5178034
• Report Number(s): UCRL-102242; CONF-8907152-2; ON: DE90005246; TRN: 90-003288
• Resource Relation: Conference: Short course on high-pressure equations of state: theory and applications, Varenna (Italy), 25 Jul - 4 Aug 1989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
PLASMA
EQUATIONS OF STATE
CALCULATION METHODS
FREE ENERGY
GASES
PLASMA DENSITY
SAHA EQUATION
STATISTICAL MECHANICS
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
640410* - Fluid Physics- General Fluid Dynamics