FLUCTUATION, RELAXATION AND SUPERSTRUCTURE IN LIQUIDS - THE CONFORMONMODEL

The conformon model of liquids postulates a heterogeneous dynamic supe rstructure in liquids. The model predicts a universal reduced energy- and entropy-density distribution (Planck distribution) which typify to gether the thermodynamics of fluctuations. The mean reduced energy- an d entropy density distributions are identical and invariant at all tem peratures, independently of the type of molecules the liquid is compri sed of. The model predicts therefore a unique superstructure at the qu asi-static glass-transition temperature. Tapping-mode atomic force exp eriments on monolayers of bottle-brush molecules reveal a type of a su perstructure which is, in fact, in good accord with the conformon mode l. Relaxation experiments can be described as superposition of a broad set of intra-conformon Debye-processes which is consequently related to the heterogeneous equilibrium structure. Principal aspects of the r esults are reflected in the paper.