A generalized Coulomb logarithm for strongly coupled plasmas

Abstract

Transport coefficients for Coulomb collision processes, e.g., friction, energy exchange, and resistivity, are calculated for Debye-screened (Yukawa) plasmas including correlation effects within the binary collision approximation. A generalized Coulomb logarithm, $\Xi(\Lambda)$, is required, which asymptotes to $\ln \Lambda$ in the weakly coupled limit, but is significantly modified when $\Lambda \lesssim 10^2$ due to large angle collisions. In the regime $10^{-2} \lesssim \Lambda \lesssim 10^2$, $\Xi$ can be substantially larger for attractive collisions than repulsive.