STATIC AND DYNAMIC STRUCTURE OF LIQUIDS AND GLASSES

An introduction to static and dynamic structure factors for pure metal s and alloys (either liquids or glasses) is presented, including the n eed for parallel investigations using experimental, simulation and the oretical methods. The significance of partial structure factors for th e interpretation of data and their measurement by neutron and/or X-ray scattering methods is described. Applications of this discussion to t he study of electronic and ionic distributions in pure metals are cons idered. An example of data on the static structure factors is given bu t, since that area is well covered in the literature and at this confe rence, more space is given to dynamic structure factors. Some remarks are made on the dynamic structure factor for glasses and the frequency -wave number relationship for collective modes. As an example of curre nt analysis, the published data on liquid rubidium are reduced to the second order memory function, and compared with theoretical prediction s at that level. It is concluded that this area is still a topical and an active one (e.g., 60 papers at LAM 7). Moreover, we may look forwa rd to worthwhile improvements in all areas - experimental, simulation and theoretical - during the next decade.