Computation and analysis of the dynamic structure factor S(k, ω) for small wave vectors

Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations have been performed for the Lennard-Jones (12-6) potential function using 2048 particles. Using conventional parameters the results may be compared with those for liquid argon.

The dynamic structure factor S(k, ω) has been determined both by Fourier inversion of the intermediate scattering function F(k, t) and from the longitudinal current-current correlation function C _∥(k, t). Particular attention was paid to the recurrence time of the system. The results for S(k, ω) by the two methods agree within 5 per cent for the whole region of small k-vectors considered. Double Fourier inversion of the van Hove function G(r, t) led to insufficiently accurate results for these small k-values. In view of the present data, the MD-results of Levesque et al. 1] for S(k, ω) have only a qualitative character. These latter data appear to contain truncation errors due to incomplete Fourier transformations.

Using a hydrodynamic assumption for F(k, t) we were able to extract the transport coefficients, the velocity of sound and the ratio of the specific heats in the limit of large wave lengths or small k. The velocity of sound was obtained by exploiting the MD generated anomalous dispersion curve of sound waves. Anomalous dispersion was found to set in for kσ ～ 0·25. A sound speed of 880 ms^-1 has been determined which is in excellent agreement with experimental values for liquid argon. The total error for the MD value amounts to about 5 per cent. In contrast, the ratio of the specific heats γ and the transport coefficients D _T and Γ (thermal diffusivity and sound attenuation) were determinable only with an accuracy of 15 per cent due to the need for larger extrapolations. Nevertheless, we found D _T, Γ and γ in agreement with experimental values within 5-10 per cent.