Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to get some insight into
the dynamical properties of supercooled ethanol. The temperature dependenc
e of translational and reorientational dynamics of the system has been anal
yzed. For all the correlators under study, a two-step relaxation behavior h
as been encountered. For short times, there is an initial Gaussian decay. F
or very long times, the relaxation shows a nonexponential dependence. For i
ntermediate times and for temperatures close to a critical temperature, a n
ondiffusive regime appears (beta relaxation). The predictions of the ideal
version of the mode-coupling theory have been tested and a reasonable agree
ment has been found for the dynamics of the molecular centers-of-mass. (C)
2001 American Institute of Physics.