Neutron investigation of the ion dynamics in liquid mercury: evidence for collective excitations.
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.
Bove
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INFM and Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá di Perugia, I-06123 Perugia, Italy.
Sacchetti
F
F
Petrillo
C
C
Dorner
B
B
Formisano
F
F
Barocchi
F
F