Mode-coupling approach to the dynamics of simple liquids

Summary A new derivation of the mode-coupling theory of liquid dynamics is presented which is applicable to both quantum and classical systems. A clear distinction between the basic underlying hyphotheses and the more technical approximations has been attempted. Asymptotic corrections to the dynamics of modes due to mode-coupling effects and selfconsistent mode-coupling theories emerge from the original idea as two markedly different branches of application. Paper presented at the workshop ?Highlights on Simple Liquids?, held in Turin at ISI on 1–3 May, 1989.