Orientational dynamics in supercooled liquids near T(c) and comparison with ideal mode-coupling theory

Phys Rev Lett. 2000 Mar 13;84(11):2437-40. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2437.

Abstract

Orientational dynamics in supercooled salol and ortho-terphenyl were measured near their critical temperatures, T(c), with optical Kerr effect experiments spanning a very broad range of times. Above T(c), the decays are shown to be in excellent agreement with the master curve predicted by ideal mode-coupling theory when higher order terms are included. Between the critical decay and the von Schweidler power laws, the intermediate time range of the data can be modeled by a power law. This intermediate power law, located at 2<t<10 ps to 500 ps (depending on temperature), shows a significant temperature dependence with a power law exponent of approximately -1 below T(c).