Theory of liquids: from excitations to thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in the theoretical understanding of liquid thermodynamics, focusing on excitations and their impact on properties like heat capacity, challenging previous beliefs about the unattainability of a general liquid theory.

Contribution

It presents new developments in theory, experiment, and modeling that elucidate the behavior of excitations in liquids and their thermodynamic implications.

Findings

Understanding of excitations in liquids improved

Link between excitations and heat capacity clarified

Recent models successfully describe liquid thermodynamics

Abstract

Of the three basic states of matter, liquid is perhaps the most complex. While its flow properties are described by fluid mechanics, its thermodynamic properties are often neglected, and for many years it was widely believed that a general theory of liquid thermodynamics was unattainable. In recent decades that view has been challenged, as new advances have finally enabled us to understand and describe the thermodynamic properties of liquids. This book explains the recent developments in theory, experiment and modelling that have enabled us to understand the behaviour of excitations in liquids and the impact of this behaviour on heat capacity and other basic properties. Presented in plain language with a focus on real liquids and their experimental properties, this book is a useful reference text for researchers and graduate students in condensed matter physics and chemistry, as well as for advanced courses covering the theory of liquids.