Electric conductivity of a dense strongly ionized alkali metal plasma

A lithium plasma is experimentally studied at pressures 12.5-50 MPa and temperatures 7000-50,000 K. The plasma is generated by electric explosion of lithium wires in an argon atmosphere of high pressure. The equation of state of the plasma is described well by the ideal gas model; the electric conductivity of the plasma increases slowly with pressure and decreases slightly with increasing temperature. The expected increase in the electric conductivity of the plasma with temperature in the region of high temperatures was not recorded. The data on the electric conductivity obtained are compared with the entire body of experimental and computational data on the electric conductivity of a nonideal plasma.