INVARIANT CRITERIA FOR BOUND-STATES, DEGREE OF IONIZATION, AND PLASMA PHASE-TRANSITION

Basis invariant characterizations of bound states and bound fraction of a partially ionized hydrogen plasma are given in terms of properties of the spectrum of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the equilibrium quantum statistical one-proton one-electron reduced density matrix. It is suggested that these can be used to place theories of a proposed plasma-ionization phase transition on a firm foundation. This general approach may be relevant to cosmological questions such as the quark deconfinement-confinement transition. © 1990 The American Physical Society.