arXiv subjects

Duane C. Wallace

Publications and source records attributed to Duane C. Wallace.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Theoretical estimates of the logarithmic phonon spectral moment for monatomic liquids

We calculate the logarithmic moment of the phonon frequency spectrum at a single density for 29 monatomic liquids using two methods, both suggested by Wallace's theory of liquid dynamics: The first method relies on liquid entropy data, the second on neutron scattering data in the crystal phase. This theory predicts that for a class of elements called ``normal melters,'' including all 29 of these materials, the two estimates should closely match, and we find that they agree to within a few percent. We also perform the same calculations for four ``anomalous melters,'' for which we expect the two estimates to differ markedly; we find that they disagree by factors almost up to three. From our results we conclude that the liquid entropy estimates of the logarithmic moment, applicable both to normal and anomalous melters, are trustworthy to a few percent, which makes them reliable for use in estimates of various liquid transport coefficients.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Test of a theoretical equation of state for elemental solids and liquids

We propose a means for constructing highly accurate equations of state (EOS) for elemental solids and liquids essentially from first principles, based upon a particular decomposition of the underlying condensed matter Hamiltonian for the nuclei and electrons. We also point out that at low pressures the neglect of anharmonic and electron-phonon terms, both contained in this formalism, results in errors of less than 5% in the thermal parts of the thermodynamic functions. Then we explicitly display the forms of the remaining terms in the EOS, commenting on the use of experiment and electronic structure theory to evaluate them. We also construct an EOS for Aluminum and compare the resulting Hugoniot with data up to 5 Mbar, both to illustrate our method and to see whether the approximation of neglecting anharmonicity et al. remains viable to such high pressures. We find a level of agreement with experiment that is consistent with the low-pressure results.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Mean-atom-trajectory model for the velocity autocorrelation function of monatomic liquids

We present a model for the motion of an average atom in a liquid or supercooled liquid state and apply it to calculations of the velocity autocorrelation function $Z(t)$ and diffusion coefficient $D$. The model trajectory consists of oscillations at a distribution of frequencies characteristic of the normal modes of a single potential valley, interspersed with position- and velocity-conserving transits to similar adjacent valleys. The resulting predictions for $Z(t)$ and $D$ agree remarkably well with MD simulations of Na at up to almost three times its melting temperature. Two independent processes in the model relax velocity autocorrelations: (a) dephasing due to the presence of many frequency components, which operates at all temperatures but which produces no diffusion, and (b) the transit process, which increases with increasing temperature and which produces diffusion. Because the model provides a single-atom trajectory in real space and time, including transits, it may be used to calculate all single-atom correlation functions.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Velocity Autocorrelation and Harmonic Motion in Supercooled Nondiffusing Monatomic Liquids

Studies of the many-body potential surface of liquid sodium have shown that it consists of a great many intersecting nearly harmonic valleys, a large fraction of which have the same frequency spectra. This suggests that a sufficiently supercooled state of this system, remaining in a single valley, would execute nearly harmonic motion. To test this hypothesis, we have compared $\hat{Z}(t)$, the normalized velocity autocorrelation function, calculated from MD simulations to that predicted under the assumption of purely harmonic motion. We find nearly perfect agreement between the two, suggesting that the harmonic approximation captures all essential features of the motion.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

A Mean Atom Trajectory Model for Monatomic Liquids

A recent description of the motion of atoms in a classical monatomic system in liquid and supercooled liquid states divides the motion into two parts: oscillations within a given many-particle potential valley, and transit motion which carries the system from one many-particle valley to another. Building on this picture, we construct a model for the trajectory of an average atom in the system. The trajectory consists of oscillations at the normal-mode distribution of frequencies, representing motion within a fluctuating single-particle well, interspersed with position- and velocity-conserving transits to similar adjacent wells. For the supercooled liquid in nondiffusing states, the model gives velocity and displacement autocorrelation functions which exactly match those found in the many-particle harmonic approximation, and which are known to agree almost precisely with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of liquid Na. At higher temperatures, by allowing transits to proceed at a temperature-dependent rate, the model gives velocity autocorrelation functions which are also in remarkably good agreement with MD simulations of Na at up to three times its melting temperature. Two independent processes in the model relax velocity autocorrelations: (a) dephasing due to the presence of many frequency components, which operates at all temperatures but which produces zero diffusion, and (b) the transit process, which increases with increasing temperature and which produces diffusion.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗