Microscopic dynamics of liquid aluminum oxide.

Sinn, H; Glorieux, B; Hennet, L; Alatas, A; Hu, M; Alp, E E; Bermejo, F J; Price, D L et al. · Science · 2003

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Collective excitations have been observed in liquid aluminum oxide at high temperatures by combining a containerless sample environment with inelastic x-ray scattering. The excitation spectra show a well-defined triplet peak structure at lower wave vectors Q (1 to 6 nanometers-1) and a single quasi-elastic peak at higher Q. The high-Q spectra are well described by kinetic theory. The low-Q spectra require a frequency-dependent viscosity and provide previously unknown experimental constraints on the behavior of liquids at the interface between atomistic and continuum theory.