ELECTRONIC CORRELATION FUNCTIONS IN LIQUID METALS

Abstract

To determine experimentally the three pair correlation functions g ii (r), g ie (r) and g ee (r) in a pure liquid metal, i denoting ions and e electrons, requires three independent diffraction measurements. A brief review will be given in this difficult area, but progress is quite slow. One can make headway by confronting available experimental diffraction data with the results of computer experiments, and in particular on g ie (r). This will be illustrated with specific reference to recent computer simulations on liquid Mg and liquid Bi. For Mg, analytic modelling is also possible and this will be discussed. Quite independently, computer experiments have recently appeared which describe the effects of isochoric heating on dense fluid hydrogen over a wide temperature range. This prompts again reference to analytic models, both caged atomic and molecular hydrogen being considered. Finally, though the electrical conductivity of the H plasma above has not yet been studied, a brief discussion of possible mechanism of electronic transport in strongly coupled plasma will be presented.