Physicists used the Pelican neutron spectrometer at the Australian Atomic Science and Technology Organization
This relationship has been predicted inthe universal law of the density of phonon states of a liquid, formulated by Alessio Zaccone and Mateo Baglioli in 2021. Mathematical theory offered a solution to the problem of obtaining the distribution of complex energy states for liquids.
Universal law. Source: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
One of the most important quantities in physics isdistribution of frequencies or energy of waves propagating in matter. This is especially important as it is the starting point for calculating and understanding some of the fundamental properties of matter, such as specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity, as well as the interaction of light and matter,” Professor Zaccone said of his discovery.
As scientists note, the difficulty of constructing a theory to predict the density of phonon states of liquid bodies was instability: atoms actively diffuse, but the liquid itself can flow.
"Atoms in a liquid are always stronglyinteract with each other, but not in the same way as in a solid body. The relationships are not "harmonic", the atoms will not be restored to the same configuration after an interaction. The atoms will continue to rapidly diffuse and slide past each other,” says Caleb Stamper, co-author of the study.
As the researchers note, the new universal law has the same significance for the physics of liquids as Debye's law of heat capacity, formulated in 1912, played for the study of solids.
Cover image: ANSTO
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