arXiv subjects

Alessandro Cunsolo

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Cunsolo.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Role of the single-particle dynamics in the transverse current autocorrelation function of a liquid metal

A very recent simulation study of the transverse current autocorrelation of the Lennard-Jones fluid revealed, as expected, that this function can be perfectly described within the exponential expansion theory. However, above a certain wavevector $Q$, not only transverse collective excitations are found to propagate in the fluid, but a second oscillatory component of unclear origin (thereby called X) must be considered to properly account for the time behavior of the correlation. Here we present an extended investigation of the transverse current autocorrelation of liquid Au as obtained by ab initio molecular dynamics in the very wide range 5.7 nm$^{-1}$ $\le Q \le$ 32.8 nm$^{-1}$ in order to follow the behavior of the X component, if present, also at large $Q$ values. By combining the study of the transverse current autocorrelation with the analogous analysis of its self part, we show that the second oscillatory component originates from the longitudinal dynamics and appears in the same form as a collective excitation is represented in the single-particle behavior. Therefore, the signature of the longitudinal processes (sound waves) in the transverse current autocorrelation is not due to often conjectured couplings of longitudinal and trasverse modes, but descends from the self part of the function, which contains the traces of all processes acting in the fluid as the density of states, that is the spectrum of the velocity autocorrelation function, does.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2023

Ice phonon spectra and Bayes inference: a gateway to a new understanding of terahertz sound propagation in water

Understanding how molecules engage in collective motions in a liquid where a network of bonds exists has both fundamental and applied relevance. On the one hand, it can elucidate the ``ordering" role of long-range correlations in an otherwise strongly dissipative system; on the other hand, it can inspire new avenues to control such order to implement sound manipulation. Water represents an ideal investigation case to unfold these general aspects and, across the decades, it has been the focus of thorough scrutiny. Despite this investigative effort, the spectrum of terahertz density fluctuations of water largely remains a puzzle for Condensed Matter physicists. To unravel it, we compare previous scattering measurements of water spectra with new ones on ice. Thanks to the unique asset of Bayesian inference, we draw a more detailed portrayal of the phonon response of ice. The comparison with the one of liquid water challenges the current understanding of density fluctuations in water, or more in general, of any networked liquid.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Onset of two collective excitations in the transverse dynamics of a simple fluid

A thorough analysis of the transverse current autocorrelation function obtained by molecular dynamics simulations of a dense Lennard-Jones fluid reveals that even such a simple system is characterized by a varied dynamical behavior with changing length scale. By using the exponential expansion theory, we provide a full account of the time correlation at wavevectors $Q$ between the upper boundary of the hydrodynamic region and $Q_p/2$, with $Q_p$ the position of the main peak of the static structure factor. In the $Q$ range studied we identify and accurately locate the wavevector at which shear wave propagation starts to take place, and show clearly how this phenomenon may be represented by a damped harmonic oscillator changing, in a continuous way, from an overdamped to an underdamped condition. The decomposition into exponential modes allows one to convincingly establish not only the crossover related to the onset of transverse waves but, surprisingly, also the existence of a second pair of modes equivalent to another oscillator that undergoes, at higher $Q$ values, a similarly smooth over- to underdamped transition.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2021

Signature of Many-Body Localization of Phonons in Strongly Disordered Superlattices

Many-body localization (MBL) has attracted significant attention due to its immunity to thermalization, role in logarithmic entanglement entropy growth, and opportunities to reach exotic quantum orders. However, experimental realization of MBL in solid-state systems has remained challenging. Here we report evidence of a possible phonon MBL phase in disordered GaAs/AlAs superlattices. Through grazing-incidence inelastic X-ray scattering, we observe a strong deviation of the phonon population from equilibrium in samples doped with ErAs nanodots at low temperature, signaling a departure from thermalization. This behavior occurs within finite phonon energy and wavevector windows, suggesting a localization-thermalization crossover. We support our observation by proposing a theoretical model for the effective phonon Hamiltonian in disordered superlattices, and showing that it can be mapped exactly to a disordered 1D Bose-Hubbard model with a known MBL phase. Our work provides momentum-resolved experimental evidence of phonon localization, extending the scope of MBL to disordered solid-state systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Thermally triggered phononic gaps in liquids at THz scale

In this paper we present inelastic X-ray scattering experiments in a diamond anvil cell and molecular dynamic simulations to investigate the behavior of phononic excitations in liquid Ar. The spectra calculated using molecular dynamics were found to be in a good agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, we observe that, upon temperature increases, a low-frequency transverse phononic gap emerges while high-frequency propagating modes become evanescent at the THz scale. The effect of strong localization of a longitudinal phononic mode in the supercritical phase is observed for the first time. The evidence for the high-frequency transverse phononic gap due to the transition from an oscillatory to a ballistic dynamic regimes of motion is presented and supported by molecular dynamics simulations. This transition takes place across the Frenkel line thermodynamic limit which demarcates compressed liquid and non-compressed fluid domains on the phase diagram and is supported by calculations within the Green-Kubo phenomenological formalism. These results are crucial to advance the development of novel terahertz thermal devices, phononic lenses, mirrors, and other THz metamaterials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Signature of a polyamorphic transition in the THz spectrum of vitreous GeO2

The THz spectrum of density fluctuations, $S(Q, ω)$, of vitreous GeO$_2$ at ambient temperature was measured by inelastic x-ray scattering from ambient pressure up to pressures well beyond that of the known $α$-quartz to rutile polyamorphic (PA) transition. We observe significant differences in the spectral shape measured below and above the PA transition, in particular, in the 30-80 meV range. Guided by first-principle lattice dynamics calculations, we interpret the changes in the phonon dispersion as the evolution from a quartz-like to a rutile-like coordination. Notably, such a crossover is accompanied by a cusp-like behavior in the pressure dependence of the elastic response of the system. Overall, the presented results highlight the complex fingerprint of PA phenomena on the high-frequency phonon dispersion.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2015

Revealing the Mechanism of the Viscous-to-Elastic Crossover in Liquids

In this work, we report on inelastic X-ray scattering experiments combined with the molecular dynamics simulations on deeply supercritical Ar. The presented results unveil the mechanism and regimes of sound propagation in the liquid matter and provide compelling evidence for the adiabatic-to-isothermal longitudinal sound propagation transition. We introduce a Hamiltonian predicting low-frequency transverse sound propagation gaps, which is confirmed by experimental findings and molecular dynamics calculations. As a result, a universal link is established between the positive sound dispersion (PSD) phenomenon and the origin of transverse sound propagation revealing the viscous-to-elastic crossover in liquids. The PSD and transverse phononic excitations evolve consistently with theoretical predictions. Both can be considered as a universal fingerprint of the dynamic response of a liquid, which is also observable in a subdomain of supercritical phase. The simultaneous disappearance of both these effects at elevated temperatures is a manifestation of the Frenkel line. We expect that these findings will advance the current understanding of fluids under extreme thermodynamic conditions.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗