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Updated: Oct 29, 2025
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Ultrasound Velocity Measurement in a Liquid Metal Electrode
Published on: August 5, 2015
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Self-diffusion in single component liquid metals: a case study of mercury.
Sandro Szabó1,2, Fan Yang2, Wiebke Lohstroh1
1Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) and Physik Department, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany.
Summary
Atomic dynamics in mercury were studied using neutron scattering. Self-diffusivity showed Arrhenius behavior, with mass transport dominated by interatomic potentials, suggesting collective dynamics at lower temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Neutron scattering
Background:
- Understanding atomic dynamics in liquid metals is crucial for predicting material properties.
- Mercury's unique electronic structure presents interesting challenges for transport theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temperature-dependent atomic dynamics of mercury.
- To precisely determine the self-diffusivity and activation energy.
- To explore the underlying transport mechanisms and their relation to interatomic potentials.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) was employed to probe atomic motion.
- Experiments were conducted over a temperature range of 240–350 K.
- Data analysis focused on self-diffusivity and deviations from established transport relations.
Main Results:
- Self-diffusivity of mercury exhibits Arrhenius behavior across the studied temperature range.
- An activation energy of 41.8 ± 1.4 meV was determined with high precision (5% standard deviation).
- Deviations from the Stokes/Sutherland-Einstein relation were observed, indicating collective dynamics at lower temperatures.
Conclusions:
- The self-diffusion coefficient can be predicted using an effective atom radius, highlighting the role of repulsive interatomic potentials.
- A simple model of uncorrelated binary collisions is insufficient to explain mercury's self-diffusion behavior.
- Atomic dynamics in mercury show increasing collective characteristics as temperature decreases.
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