Experimental study of the electrical conductivity of strongly coupled copper plasmas

The electrical conductivity of copper has been measured in the range of densities 0.3–3 g/${\mathrm{cm}}^3$ and in the temperature range from 8 000 to 30 000 K. Copper wires were vaporized in glass capillaries, and the conductivity measured in the 1-μs interval after vaporization began, and before the tube disintegrated. Measured conductivities are compared with several theoretical models.