Microdynamics of a monoatomic liquid metal

Modified microscopic theory of the collective dynamics of a simple liquid has been used to explain the recently observed accurate detailed coherent dynamical structure factor S( k, ω) of liquid Na at 390 K as measured by high resolution inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) in the wave-vector, κ, range 1.5 nm −1 ⩽ κ ⩽ 14.6 nm −1. The computed values of detailed spectral lineshape of S( k, ω), the dispersion relation and the velocity of sound are in reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental results. Variation of longitudinal viscosity with κ has also been reported.