Electrical conductivity and equation-of-state study of warm dense copper:: Measurements and quantum molecular dynamics calculations -: art. no. 064203

Absolute measurements of the pressure and the electrical conductivity of expanded copper in the warm dense matter regime (rho=0.5-0.3 g/cm(3) and 6000 K < T < 30 000 K) are obtained in an isochoric plasma closed-vessel (EPI). Quantum molecular dynamics simulations are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental results, allowing for a detailed interpretation of the optical conductivities. A shift in energy of the 4s -> 4p atomic line is explained by the rise of ionization with temperature.