arXiv subjects

Yadu K. Sarathchandran

Publications and source records attributed to Yadu K. Sarathchandran.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Complexity in the medium-range order of gallium as a polyvalent liquid metal

Simplicity in chemical composition does not always translate into simplicity in the structures and dynamics of liquids and solids. Some elementary liquid metals, such as gallium, show unusual behaviors in thermodynamic and transport properties as a result of their complex atomic structure and dynamics. In this work, we study the real-space atomic correlation function of liquid gallium by neutron scattering. In the pair-distribution function, there exist two kinds of medium-range order (MRO), characterized by oscillations beyond the first nearest neighbors. On the other hand, the first neighbor shell shows only one kind of bond. The two types of MRO are strongly overlapping in space and fluctuating in time. We propose that they are the basis for anomalous behavior of liquid gallium. This view challenges the current view that liquid gallium consists of fluctuating metallic and insulating domains. These findings shed new light on the interpretation of similar microscopic anomalies observed in other semi-metallic liquids.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2025

Real-space Atomic Dynamics in Liquid Gallium Studied by Inelastic Neutron Scattering

Gallium is a prototypical liquid metal and has gained renewed attention due to its unique properties. Characterizing and elucidating its atomic dynamics remains elusive despite numerous studies, primarily due to the challenges of quantifying atomic-scale dynamics in liquids. Recent developments in inelastic neutron scattering enable us to measure the Van Hove correlation function that describes the real-space motion of liquid atoms. In this work, we use this approach to reveal the dynamics in gallium liquids and find the co-existence of two dynamical medium-range orders (MROs), which have a dynamical behavior distinct from that of the short-range order (SRO). We propose that these MROs are driven by global forces in the form of two density waves, as a direct consequence of the underlying competition between ionic core repulsion and valence electron cohesion. We suggest that the density wave approach is not only applicable to other metallic liquids exhibiting similar structural anomalies, but also offers a promising direction for elucidating the dynamics of complex liquids and glasses by linking electronic-state fluctuations to atomic dynamics.

cond-mat.soft↗