title: Neutron investigation of the ion dynamics in liquid mercury: evidence for collective excitations.
abstract: The ion dynamics of liquid mercury was investigated by inelastic neutron scattering. By exploiting an optimized high-resolution ( approximately 1 meV) experimental configuration, the dynamic response function was accurately measured. Collective excitations extending up to 0.6 A(-1) were observed with an associated velocity of 2100+/-80 m/s. This value is notably greater than the sound velocity, but it is provided by a simple Bohm-Staver calculation. The latter finding emphasizes those electron-related features in the ion dynamics, which are common to systems as different as polyvalent and alkali metals.
authors.affiliation: INFM and Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá di Perugia, I-06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petrillo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dorner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barocchi