Elementary vibrational model for transport properties of dense fluids

A vibrational model of transport properties of dense fluids assumes that solid-like oscillations of atoms around their temporary equilibrium positions dominate the dynamical picture. The temporary equilibrium positions of atoms do not form any regular structure and are not fixed, unlike in solids. Instead, they are allowed to diffuse and this is why liquids can flow. However, this diffusive motion is characterized by much longer time scales compared to those of solid-like oscillations. Although this general picture is not particularly new, only in a recent series of works it has been possible to construct a coherent and internally consistent quantitative description of transport properties such as self-diffusion, shear viscosity, and thermal conductivity. Moreover, the magnitudes of these transport coefficients have been related to the properties of collective excitations in dense fluids. Importantly, the model is simple and no free parameters are involved. Recent achievements are summarized in this overview. Application of the vibrational model to various single-component model systems such as plasma-related Coulomb and screened Coulomb (Yukawa) fluids, the Lennard-Jones fluid, and the hard-sphere fluid is considered in detail. Applications to real liquids are also briefly discussed. Overall, good to excellent agreement with available numerical and experimental data is demonstrated. Conditions of applicability of the vibrational model and a related question concerning the location of the gas–liquid dynamical crossover are discussed.