A new analysis of sound propagation near the critical point of xenon

Abstract

We give a new analysis of experimental data showing that the frequency dependence observed in the absorption and dispersion of sound near the critical point of xenon is not only due, as believed up to now, to the entropy mode coupling but is also due to the density inhomogeneities. The local order theory which takes into account these inhomogeneities gives an accurate description of the data for T - Tc ≥ 1 °C. We find for the bulk viscosity a divergence law of the form (T - Tc) -1.92, in very good agreement with Kawasaki's prediction.