Electrical conductivity and equation-of-state study of warm dense copper: Measurements and quantum molecular dynamics calculations

Abstract

Absolute measurements of the pressure and the electrical conductivity of expanded copper in the warm dense matter regime ($\ensuremath{\rho}=0.5--0.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{g}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ and $6000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}<T<30\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$) are obtained in an isochoric plasma closed-vessel (EPI). Quantum molecular dynamics simulations are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental results, allowing for a detailed interpretation of the optical conductivities. A shift in energy of the $4s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4p$ atomic line is explained by the rise of ionization with temperature.