101 research outputs found
Density Fluctuations in an Electrolyte from Generalized Debye-Hueckel Theory
Near-critical thermodynamics in the hard-sphere (1,1) electrolyte is well
described, at a classical level, by Debye-Hueckel (DH) theory with (+,-) ion
pairing and dipolar-pair-ionic-fluid coupling. But DH-based theories do not
address density fluctuations. Here density correlations are obtained by
functional differentiation of DH theory generalized to {\it non}-uniform
densities of various species. The correlation length diverges universally
at low density as (correcting GMSA theory). When
one has as
where the amplitudes compare informatively with experimental data.Comment: 5 pages, REVTeX, 1 ps figure included with epsf. Minor changes,
references added. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Collective dynamics of liquid aluminum probed by Inelastic X-ray Scattering
An inelastic X-ray scattering experiment has been performed in liquid
aluminum with the purpose of studying the collective excitations at wavevectors
below the first sharp diffraction peak. The high instrumental resolution (up to
1.5 meV) allows an accurate investigation of the dynamical processes in this
liquid metal on the basis of a generalized hydrodynamics framework. The
outcoming results confirm the presence of a viscosity relaxation scenario ruled
by a two timescale mechanism, as recently found in liquid lithium.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Evidence of two viscous relaxation processes in the collective dynamics of liquid lithium
New inelastic X-ray scattering experiments have been performed on liquid
lithium in a wide wavevector range. With respect to the previous measurements,
the instrumental resolution, improved up to 1.5 meV, allows to accurately
investigate the dynamical processes determining the observed shape of the the
dynamic structure factor, . A detailed analysis of the lineshapes
shows the co-existence of relaxation processes with both a slow and a fast
characteristic timescales, and therefore that pictures of the relaxation
mechanisms based on a simple viscoelastic model must be abandoned.Comment: 5 pages, 4 .PS figure
Ginzburg Criterion for Coulombic Criticality
To understand the range of close-to-classical critical behavior seen in
various electrolytes, generalized Debye-Hueckel theories (that yield density
correlation functions) are applied to the restricted primitive model of
equisized hard spheres. The results yield a Landau-Ginzburg free-energy
functional for which the Ginzburg criterion can be explicitly evaluated. The
predicted scale of crossover from classical to Ising character is found to be
similar in magnitude to that derived for simple fluids in comparable fashion.
The consequences in relation to experiments are discussed briefly.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 2 tables (latex2.09 required due to revtex's
incompatibility with latex2e tables
Evidence of short time dynamical correlations in simple liquids
We report a molecular dynamics (MD) study of the collective dynamics of a
simple monatomic liquid -interacting through a two body potential that mimics
that of lithium- across the liquid-glass transition. In the glassy phase we
find evidences of a fast relaxation process similar to that recently found in
Lennard-Jones glasses. The origin of this process is ascribed to the
topological disorder, i.e. to the dephasing of the different momentum
Fourier components of the actual normal modes of vibration of the disordered
structure. More important, we find that the fast relaxation persists in the
liquid phase with almost no temperature dependence of its characteristic
parameters (strength and relaxation time). We conclude, therefore, that in the
liquid phase well above the melting point, at variance with the usual
assumption of {\it un-correlated} binary collisions, the short time particles
motion is strongly {\it correlated} and can be described via a normal mode
expansion of the atomic dynamics.Comment: 7 pages, 7 .eps figs. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Inelastic X-ray scattering study of the collective dynamics in liquid sodium
Inelastic X-ray scattering data have been collected for liquid sodium at
T=390 K, i.e. slightly above the melting point. Owing to the very high
instrumental resolution, pushed up to 1.5 meV, it has been possible to
determine accurately the dynamic structure factor, , in a wide
wavevector range, nm, and to investigate on the dynamical
processes underlying the collective dynamics. A detailed analysis of the
lineshape of , similarly to other liquid metals, reveals the
co-existence of two different relaxation processes with slow and fast
characteristic timescales respectively. The present data lead to the conclusion
that: i) the picture of the relaxation mechanism based on a simple viscoelastic
model fails; ii) although the comparison with other liquid metals reveals
similar behavior, the data do not exhibit an exact scaling law as the principle
of corresponding state would predict.Comment: RevTex, 7 pages, 6 eps figures. Accepted by Phys. Rev.
Microscopic dynamics in liquid metals: the experimental point of view
The experimental results relevant for the understanding of the microscopic
dynamics in liquid metals are reviewed, with special regards to the ones
achieved in the last two decades. Inelastic Neutron Scattering played a major
role since the development of neutron facilities in the sixties. The last ten
years, however, saw the development of third generation radiation sources,
which opened the possibility of performing Inelastic Scattering with X rays,
thus disclosing previously unaccessible energy-momentum regions. The purely
coherent response of X rays, moreover, combined with the mixed
coherent/incoherent response typical of neutron scattering, provides enormous
potentialities to disentangle aspects related to the collectivity of motion
from the single particle dynamics.
If the last twenty years saw major experimental developments, on the
theoretical side fresh ideas came up to the side of the most traditional and
established theories. Beside the raw experimental results, therefore, we review
models and theoretical approaches for the description of microscopic dynamics
over different length-scales, from the hydrodynamic region down to the single
particle regime, walking the perilous and sometimes uncharted path of the
generalized hydrodynamics extension. Approaches peculiar of conductive systems,
based on the ionic plasma theory, are also considered, as well as kinetic and
mode coupling theory applied to hard sphere systems, which turn out to mimic
with remarkable detail the atomic dynamics of liquid metals. Finally, cutting
edges issues and open problems, such as the ultimate origin of the anomalous
acoustic dispersion or the relevance of transport properties of a conductive
systems in ruling the ionic dynamic structure factor are discussed.Comment: 53 pages, 41 figures, to appear in "The Review of Modern Physics".
Tentatively scheduled for July issu
EVIDENCE FOR COARSE STRUCTURE (INTERMEDIATE RANGE ORDER) IN METAL-AMMONIA SOLUTIONS
No abstract availabl
LOCAL ORDER IN THE EUTECTIC Mg.72 Zn.28 ALLOY
Les facteurs de structure globaux S(Q) et les fonctions de corrĂ©lation G(R) de l'alliage amorphe Mg.72 Zn.28 ont Ă©tĂ© obtenus par diffraction des rayons X et des neutrons. L'ordre chimique Ă courte distance est discutĂ© dans le formalisme de Bhatia-Thornton et les nombres de coordination partiels sont extraits. La comparaison de l'amorphe et du cristal Mg51Zn20 indique une faible diffĂ©rence de l'ordre local due Ă un nombre de premiers voisins de mĂȘme type supĂ©rieur dans la phase dĂ©sordonnĂ©e. L'Ă©volution structurale au cours de la cristallisation de l'amorphe et de la solidification du liquide surfondu a Ă©tĂ© observĂ©e in situ par diffraction neutronique. Les variations de G(R) sont en accord avec les premiers rĂ©sultats. Les alliages amorphe ou liquide cristallisent dans la phase orthorhombique Mg51Zn20 ; l'arrangement atomique est obtenu en deux Ă©tapes successives.The total structure factors S(Q) and the total pair correlation functions G(R) of the amorphous alloy Mg.72Zn.28 have been investigated by X-ray and neutron diffraction. The chemical short range order is discussed in the Bhatia-Thornton formalism and the partial coordination numbers are extracted. Comparison with the structure of crystalline Mg51Zn20 shows a weak difference in the local order due to a preference for like type atoms at the first inter-atomic distances in the disordered phase. To confirm these results, new measurements were performed by neutron diffraction. The structural evolution during the crystallization of the amorphous phase or the solidification of the undercooled melt are observed in situ. The changes of G(R) are in good agreement with the previous results. Amorphous and liquid alloys crystallize to the single phase of crystal Mg51Zn20 ; the approach of the crystalline local atomic arrangement is obtained by two successive steps
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