title: Dense plasma temperature equilibration in the binary collision approximation.
abstract: Temperature equilibration in dense, strongly coupled plasmas has been investigated without most of the usual simplifying assumptions. A quantum kinetic approach is used that accounts for strong electron-ion collisions through an exact T-matrix treatment of the scattering cross section using a screened interaction. Our results reveal the accuracy of the usual Spitzer formula for Coulomb logarithms larger than about three. Moreover, a simple model based on hyperbolic orbits yields surprisingly accurate results. We also have included equation of state effects to describe realistic plasmas.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545. gericke@lanl.gov
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Gericke
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlanges