Electron Stabilization of High-Density Fluctuations in Gaseous Mercury

Abstract

The recently observed onset of infrared dielectric anomalies in supercritical ($T>1490\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$C, $\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\sim}3$ g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$) mercury gas are interpreted as consequences of a plasma phase in which thermally generated electrons stabilize high-density fluctuations in the gas. The stabilized fluctuations can be precursors of the insulator-metal transition which takes place at higher average density ($\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\sim}9$ g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$). A variational calculation is presented with results which are consistent with the above interpretation.