High frequency collective dynamics in liquid potassium

We investigated by inelastic X-ray scattering the dynamical properties of molten potassium in a wide range of momentum transfer, Q, from 1 nm⁻¹ up to the main peak of the structure factor Q ≈ 17 nm⁻¹. The observed increase of sound velocity in the low Q region (1 < Q < 3 nm⁻¹), has been described within a model characterized by two distinct relaxation processes for the collective dynamics. The obtained results are discussed and compared with those from previous neutron scattering experiments. In particular, we associate the speed-up of the sound velocity to the ‘instantaneous’ disorder of the liquid as opposed to the argument, supported by some neutron scattering studies, of a transition from a liquid to solid like response of the system.