High frequency dynamics in liquids and supercritical fluids: A comparative inelastic x-ray scattering study

On the existence of soliton-like collective modes in liquid water at the viscoelastic crossover

The problem of large-density variations in supercooled and ambient water has been widely discussed in the past years. Recent studies have indicated the possibility of nanometer-sized density variations on the subpicosecond and picosecond time scales. The nature of fluctuating density heterogeneities remains a highly debated issue. In the present work, we address the problem of possible association of such density variations with the dynamics of terahertz longitudinal acoustic-like modes in liquid water. Our study is based on the fact that the subpicosecond dynamics of liquid water are essentially governed by the structural relaxation. Using a mode coupling theory approach, we found that for typical values of parameters of liquid water, the dynamic mechanism coming from the combination of the structural relaxation process and the finiteness of the amplitude of terahertz longitudinal acoustic-like mode gives rise to a soliton-like collective mode on a temperature-dependent nanometer length scale. The characteristics of this mode are consistent with the estimates of the amplitudes and temperature-dependent correlation lengths of density fluctuations in liquid water obtained in experiments and simulations. Thus, the fully dynamic mechanism could contribute to the formation and dynamics of fluctuating density heterogeneities. The soliton-like collective excitations suggested by our analysis may be relevant to different phenomena connected with supercooled water and can be expected to be associated with some ultrafast biological processes.

A high resolution ultraviolet Brillouin scattering set-up

We report on a high resolution inelastic UV scattering table-top setup conceived for Brillouin measurements. The system is based on a tandem 1+1 pass scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer of Sandercock type. Special optics were used in order to adapt such an interferometric device, nowadays only used at visible or IR wavelength, to the UV range. The advantages with respect to other UV Brillouin scattering instruments are the larger resolving power and the improved contrast in the low frequency spectral region. To corroborate these features we provide a comparison between data obtained using the described system and those from existing UV Brillouin scattering instruments.

On the absence of a positive sound dispersion in the THz dynamics of glycerol: an inelastic x-ray scattering study

The high frequency transport properties of glycerol are derived from inelastic x-ray scattering spectra measured at different pressures and compared with ultrasound absorption data. As a result, the presence of two distinct relaxation processes is inferred: a slow one, occurring in the GHz window and having an essentially structural character, and a fast one, related instead to microscopic degrees of freedom. While the former originates a neat increase of the apparent, i.e. frequency-dependent, sound velocity, the latter induces no visible dispersive effects on the acoustic propagation. The observed behavior is likely paradigmatic of all glass formers near or below the melting and it is here discussed and explained in some detail.

Two liquid states of matter: a dynamic line on a phase diagram

It is generally agreed that the supercritical region of a liquid consists of one single state (supercritical fluid). On the other hand, we show here that liquids in this region exist in two qualitatively different states: "rigid" and "nonrigid" liquids. Rigid to nonrigid transition corresponds to the condition τ≈τ(0), where τ is the liquid relaxation time and τ(0) is the minimal period of transverse quasiharmonic waves. This condition defines a new dynamic crossover line on the phase diagram and corresponds to the loss of shear stiffness of a liquid at all available frequencies and, consequently, to the qualitative change in many important liquid properties. We analyze this line theoretically as well as in real and model fluids and show that the transition corresponds to the disappearance of high-frequency sound, to the disappearance of roton minima, qualitative changes in the temperature dependencies of sound velocity, diffusion, viscous flow, and thermal conductivity, an increase in particle thermal speed to half the speed of sound, and a reduction in the constant volume specific heat to 2k(B) per particle. In contrast to the Widom line that exists near the critical point only, the new dynamic line is universal: It separates two liquid states at arbitrarily high pressure and temperature and exists in systems where liquid-gas transition and the critical point are absent altogether. We propose to call the new dynamic line on the phase diagram "Frenkel line".

Temperature dependence of hydrogen-bond dynamics in acetic acid-water solutions

An inelastic UV scattering experiment has been carried out on acetic acid-water solutions as a function of temperature and concentration. The analysis of experimental data indicates the presence of a crossover temperature (T(c) approximately 325 +/- 10 K). Above T(c), the energy of hydrogen bonds responsible for water-acetic acid and acetic acid-acetic acid interactions is strongly reduced. This leads to a reduction in the average number of water molecule interacting with acetic acid, as well as to a lower number of acetic acid clusters. The latter behavior can be mainly ascribed to a temperature change in the activation energy of carboxylic groups of acetic acid. These results may be also relevant to better understand the folding mechanism in protein-water solutions.