Bremsstrahlung from Hot and Dense Plasmas: A Many-Body Theoretical Approach

Summary form only given. Bremsstrahlung is the predominant process of emission and absorption in a hot and dense plasma. The knowledge of its spectral properties is of fundamental interest for plasma diagnostics. Dealing with dense and strongly correlated systems, classical formulas, such as Kramers' expression for the emissivity are improved: the correcting Gaunt factor is calculated within a consistent mam'-particle approach. Starting from the single particle spectral function, describing the finite lifetime of the emitting particles, as well as vertex corrections to the polarization function, we develop a systematic approach to the dielectric function. We discuss limiting cases of our results and their relevance for experimental findings. As an important effect, we show the suppression of bremsstrahlung at frequencies approaching the plasma frequency.