Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Effect of the wall on the velocity autocorrelation function and long-time tail of Brownian motion
1Institut für Theoretische Physik A, RWTH Aachen, Templergraben 55, 52056 Aachen, Germany. ufelder@physik.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract:
Brownian motion of a particle situated near a wall bounding the fluid in which it is immersed is affected by the wall. Specifically, it is assumed that an incompressible viscous fluid fills a half-space bounded by a plane wall and that the fluid flow satisfies stick boundary conditions at the wall. The fluctuation-dissipation theorem shows that the velocity autocorrelation function of the Brownian particle can be calculated from the frequency-dependent admittance valid locally. It is shown that the t(-3/2) long-time tail of the velocity relaxation function, valid in bulk fluid, is obliterated and replaced by a t(-5/2) long-time tail of positive amplitude for motions parallel to the wall and by a t(-5/2) long-time tail of negative amplitude for motions perpendicular to the wall. The latter finding is at variance with an earlier calculation by Gotoh and Kaneda.
Related Concept Videos
Distribution of Molecular Speeds
Mean free path and Mean free time
Velocity and Acceleration of a Wave
The velocity of the particles can be obtained by taking the partial derivative of the position equation with respect to time. We can...
The de Broglie Wavelength
Correlation of Experimental Data
For example, a spherical particle moving through a viscous fluid experiences drag. Dimensional analysis shows that the drag force depends on the particle's diameter, velocity, and...
Deriving the Speed of Sound in a Liquid
The speed of sound in fluids can be derived by considering a mechanical wave propagating...

