INSTANTANEOUS NORMAL-MODE APPROACH TO LIQUID-STATE DYNAMICS

The instantaneous normal mode (INM) approach to liquid state dynamics is presented. INM is put in historical context, and the underlying phy sical ideas, including the importance of the potential energy landscap e, are explained. It is shown that INM can be the basis of a general s tarting point for dynamical calculations in liquids, and the theoretic al developments necessary for future development are indicated. New re sults are given for the general INM formalism, as well as for depolari zed light scattering, the ''Boson peak'' in supercooled liquids, frict ion on a vibrating bond, nonadiabatic solvent induced transitions of a quantum system coupled to a liquid, and diffusion in supercooled liqu ids.