Electrical conductivity of dense copper and aluminum plasmas

Measurements are reported of the electrical conductivity of dense copper and aluminum plasmas in the temperature range 10–30 kK, in a density range from about one-fifth solid density down to 0.02 g/cm³. Plasmas were created by rapid vaporization of metal wires in a water bath. At temperatures below about 15 kK, as density decreases from the highest values measured, the conductivity falls roughly as the cube of density, reaches a minimum, and subsequently rises to approach the Spitzer prediction at low density. This minimum is not seen for temperatures above about 20 kK. These results are compared with several theoretical predictions.