A novel approach to solvation time scale in nonpolar solvents via instability of solvent density modes.
We perform linear stability analysis of solvent density modes in the presence of nonpolar solute-solvent interaction in a nonpolar solvent. The dominant instability given by the maximum positive eigenvalue of the stability matrix provides the time scale of the solvent rearrangement around a solute. Our theory predicts two long time scales for both in normal nonpolar and supercritical fluids. We discuss the existing experimental results on nonpolar solvation dynamics in light of our prediction.
Biswas
R
R
Department of Chemical, Biological and Macromolecular Sciences, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, JD Block, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 098, India. ranjit@bose.res.in
Chakrabarti
J
J