  The static resistivity of dense Al and Au plsmas are calculated where all the
needed inputs are obtained from density functional theory (DFT). This is used
as input for a study of the dynamic conductivity. These calculations involve a
self-consistent determination of (i) the equation of state (EOS) and the
ionization balance, (ii) evaluation of the ion-ion, and ion-electron
pair-distribution functions, (iii) Determination of the scattering amplitudes,
and finally the conductivity. We present data for the static resistivity of Al
for compressions 0.1-2.0, and in the temperature range T= 0.1 - 10 eV. Results
for Au in the same temperature range and for compressions 0.1-1.0 is also
given. In determining the dynamic conductivity for a range of frequencies
consistent with standard laser probes, a knowledge of the electronic
eigenstates and occupancies of Al- or Au plasma becomes necessary. They are
calculated using a neutral-pseudoatom model. We examine a number of
first-principles approaches to the optical conductivity, including many-body
perturbation theory, molecular-dynamics evaluations, and simplified
time-dependent DFT. The modification to the Drude conductivity that arises from
the presence of shallow bound states in typical Al-plasmas is examined and
numerical results are given at the level of the Fermi Golden rule and an
approximate form of time-dependent DFT.
