A critical assessment of models of pair-interactions and screening used in analyzing recent warm-dense matter (WDM) experiments

Abstract: Ultra-fast laser experiments yield increasingly reliable data on warm-dense matter (WDM), but rely on entrenched simplistic theoretical models. We re-analyze two topical experiments, avoiding (i) {\it ad hoc} core-repulsion models, (ii) "Yukawa screening" models and (iii) electron-ion equilibrium assumptions. An accurate, rapid density-functional neutral-pseudoatom model coupled to a hyper-netted-chain (HNC) equation with a bridge term is used to compute structure factors, X-Ray scattering, compressibility, phonons and resistivity. Electronic-structure codes are used to confirm the calculations. The Yukawa and core-repulsion models are shown to be misleading.