On the memory functions in simple classical liquids

Abstract

The relation between the two memory function formalisms for correlation functions in classical liquids is discussed. It is found that the kinetic equation formalism of Duderstadt and Akcasu with a simple exponential memory function can account for the double Gaussian form of the memory function in the generalized-hydrodynamics approach. The former therefore gives reasonably good results for the coherent scattering function S(k, ω), as is shown for the case of liquid Rb at 315 K in the range 1.25 ⩽k ⩽ 5.5 A−.