Dielectric and optical properties of dense plasmas

Abstract

The interaction of matter with radiation concerns almost every area in physics. The exposure of matter to radiation may change its behavior. The focus of the present review are strongly correlated Coulomb systems under the influence of electromagnetic fields. Within linear response, the dynamical and non local (frequency and wave vector dependent) dielectric function and related quantities such as the polarization function and the response function, are expressed via equilibrium correlation functions. In particular, relations for the dynamical conductivity, the dynamical local field factor, the dynamical collision frequency and the dynamical structure factor are given with respect to current-current correlation functions and force-force correlation functions. Instead of a simple Drude formula which introduces a relaxation time in a semi-empiric way, a systematic quantum statistical approach is given which is able to describe the dynamical behavior of the collision frequency. The evaluation of correlation functions is performed within a systematic quantum statistical approach and compared to molecular dynamics simulations. The results obtained are of interest with respect to the production of radiation, the excitation of matter in electromagnetic fields, the diagnostics of matter etc. Applications to the dynamical conductivity, Bremsstrahlung, Thomson scattering and optical reflectivity are discussed.