Coupling of single particle and collective modes in a one-component plasma (theory applicable to liquids)

Abstract

Recent computer simulation studies of the one-component plasma have indicated that for large values of the plasma parameter the single-particle motion is strongly influenced by the density fluctuations. By making use of a form of the random phase approximation an expression is derived for the memory function associated with velocity correlation in which the coupling of the single particle and 'plasmon' modes is clearly exposed. Satisfactory quantitative agreement is obtained with the recent molecular dynamics studies for both the memory function and frequency spectrum.