Solidity of Viscous Liquids

TL;DR

This paper proposes that viscous liquids exhibit solid-like behavior on short length scales, introducing the concept of a 'solidity length' to distinguish between solid-like and liquid-like dynamics based on recent NMR experiments.

Contribution

It introduces the 'solidity length' as a new concept to explain the solid-like behavior of viscous liquids at short scales, supported by experimental interpretation.

Findings

Viscous liquids show dominant small-angle molecular rotations.

A characteristic 'solidity length' separates solid-like and liquid-like behavior.

Interpretation of NMR data supports solid-like behavior on short scales.

Abstract

Recent NMR experiments on supercooled toluene and glycerol by Hinze and Bohmer show that small rotation angles dominate with only few large molecular rotations. These results are here interpreted by assuming that viscous liquids are solid-like on short length scales. A characteristic length, the "solidity length", separates solid-like behavior from liquid-like behavior.