Classical scattering and stopping power in dense plasmas: the effect of diffraction and dynamic screening

Abstract

Abstract In the present work, classical electron–ion scattering, Coulomb logarithm, and stopping power are studied taking into account the quantum mechanical diffraction effect and the dynamic screening effect separately and together. The inclusion of the quantum diffraction effect is realized at the same level as the well-known first-order gradient correction in the extended Thomas–Fermi theory. In order to take the effect of dynamic screening into account, the model suggested by Grabowski et al . in 2013 is used. Scattering as well as stopping power of the external electron (ion) beam by plasma ions (electrons) and scattering of the plasma's own electrons (ions) by plasma ions (electrons) are considered differently. In the first case, it is found that in the limit of the non-ideal plasma with a plasma parameter Γ → 1, the effects of quantum diffraction and dynamic screening partially compensate each other. In the second case, the dynamic screening enlarges scattering cross-section, Coulomb logarithm, and stopping power, whereas the quantum diffraction reduces their values. Comparisons with the results of other theoretical methods and computer simulations indicate that the model used in this work gives a good description of the stopping power for projectile velocities $v\,{\rm \lesssim}\, 1.5 v_{{\rm th}}$ , where v th is the thermal velocity of the plasma electrons.