Modified Bridgman Formula for the Thermal Conductivity of Complex (Dusty) Plasma Fluids

Abstract

A simple and popular Bridgman’s formula predicts a linear correlation between the thermal conductivity coefficient and the sound velocity of dense liquids. Unfortunately, it cannot be applied to strongly coupled plasma-related fluids with screened Coulomb interactions, because the sound velocity can greatly increase as screening weakens. We propose a modification of the Bridgman formula by correlating the thermal conductivity coefficient with the transverse (shear) sound velocity. This approach is demonstrated to work reasonably well in screened Coulomb (Yukawa) fluids and can be useful in the context of complex (dusty) plasmas.