Brillouin scattering study of molten zinc chloride

Polarized and depolarized Brillouin scattering experiments on molten ZnCl2 were performed between 300 and 600 degrees C in different geometries. VV spectra measured in backscattering and small angle scattering were analyzed with conventional viscoelastic theory using either a Debye or a Cole-Davidson model for the memory function. We also analyzed in the same way the temperature dependence of the transverse Brillouin lines detected in a 90 degrees VH geometry. We show that the Cole-Davidson memory function yields a consistent interpretation of all the spectra. The resulting shear and longitudinal relaxation times are equal within their error bars, and are about 2.5 times smaller than the alpha relaxation time previously determined. The static shear viscosity values deduced from the analysis of the propagating transverse waves agree, at all temperatures, with the measured viscosity values.