ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
We have carried out molecular dynamic simulations over a range of densities for two-dimensional fluids consisting of hard, soft, and Lennard-Jones disks. For comparison we have also carried out simulations for the corresponding systems in which all but one particle are frozen in position. We have studied the velocity autocorrelation functions and the closely related velocity-sign autocorrelation functions, and have examined the probabilities per unit time that a particle will undergo a first velocity sign reversal after an elapsed time t measured alternately from the last velocity reversal or from a given arbitrary time. At all densities studied, the first of these probabilities per unit time is zero at t=0 and rises to a maximum at a later time, but as the hardness of the disks is increased, the maximum moves in toward t→0. This maximum can be correlated with the "negative'' dip observed in the velocity correlation functions when plotted versus time. Our conclusion is that all these phenomena can be explained qualitatively on the basis of a model where memory does not extend back beyond the last velocity reversal. However, at high density, the velocity-sign-autocorrelation function not only shows a negative dip (which is explained by the model) but also a second "oscillation'' which is not described, even qualitatively, by the model. We conclude that the first dip in the velocity and velocity-sign correlation functions can occur even if there are no correlated or coherent librations, but the existence of a "second'' oscillation is a better indication of such correlations.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.462443
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