Molecular dynamics calculation of the thermal conductivity and shear viscosity of the classical one-component plasma

Abstract

The thermal conductivity λ and shear viscosity η of the three-dimensional classical one-component plasma (OCP) were determined by molecular dynamics experiments. In the simulations the velocity of the particles was spatially modulated, and the transport coefficients were calculated from the relaxation time of the modulation profile. The results are given for the 2⩽Γ⩽125 range of the plasma coupling parameter Γ. The reduced shear viscosity η* was found to exhibit a minimum at Γ=20 in agreement with previous calculations. In the 2⩽Γ⩽10 range our method yields η* values 20%–50% higher compared to some of the previously obtained data, while very good agreement was found at the position of the minimum of η*. The reduced thermal conductivity λ* exhibits a minimum (similarly to η*) at Γ between 15 and 20. The calculations presented here result in 30%–40% lower thermal conductivity compared to previously available data.