The Coulomb logarithm is a fundamental plasma parameter in kinetic theory. The traditional formula for the Coulomb logarithm does not correctly account for collisional processes in systems because it is obtained by using an unscreened Coulomb potential. In the present work, the Coulomb logarithm is derived on the basis of a strongly screened pair effective potential. The effective potential takes into consideration long-range many-particle screening effects. An analytical interpolation expression for the Coulomb logarithm is obtained. This formula could be used for further calculations of kinetic properties of classical nonideal plasma.

The relaxation of temperature, coupling parameters, the excess part of equation of state, and the correlation energy of the non-isothermal hot dense plasmas are considered on the basis of the method of effective interaction potentials. The electron–ion effective interaction potential for the hot dense plasma is discussed. The accuracy of description of the dense plasma properties by the effective electron–ion interaction potential is demonstrated by the agreement of the derived quantities like stopping power and transport coefficients calculated using our methodology with the results of the finite-temperature Kohn-Sham density-functional theory molecular dynamics, and orbital-free molecular dynamics results as well as with the data obtained using other theoretical approaches.

Radial distribution functions of dusty plasma particles are calculated by the application of the Langevin dynamics to a system of particles interacting through the Yukawa potential. Proposed numerical model is first validated by the comparison of the numerical results with available experimental data. Both numerically determined and experimental radial distribution functions demonstrate a good coincidence, thus, enabling a calculation of the structural properties of dusty plasma for a wide range of parameters. On the basis of the performed calculations, dependencies of internal energy and excess pressure from the coupling and density parameters are presented.

The effect of dust particle concentration on gas discharge plasma parameters was studied through development of a self-consistent kinetic model which is based on solving the Boltzmann equation for the electron distribution function. It was shown that an increase in the Havnes parameter causes an increase in the average electric field and ion density, as well as a decrease in the charge of dust particles and electron density in a dust particle cloud. Self-consistent simulations for a wide range of plasma and dust particle parameters produced several scaling laws: these are laws for dust particle potential and electric field as a function of dust particle concentration and radius, and the discharge current density. The simulation results demonstrate that the process of self-consistent accommodation of parameters of dust particles and plasma in condition of particle concentration growth causes a growth in the number of high-energy electrons in plasma, but not to depletion of electron distribution function.

Screened interaction potentials in dusty plasmas taking into account the polarization of dust particles have been obtained. On the basis of screened potentials scattering processes for ion-dust particle and dust particle-dust particle pairs have been studied. In particular, the scattering cross section is considered. The scattering processes for which the dust grain polarization is unimportant have been found. The effect of zero angle dust particle-dust particle scattering is predicted.