Is There Any Fast Sound in Water?

S. C. Santucci, D. Fioretto, L. Comez, A. Gessini, and C. Masciovecchio
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 225701 – Published 27 November 2006

Abstract

We measured the dynamic structure factor S(Q,ω) of liquid and undercooled water down to 253 K in the Q0.020.1nm1 momentum transfer region. We observe the neat departure of the apparent speed of sound from the adiabatic regime as a function of decreasing temperature. Our evaluation of the infinite-frequency limit of sound velocity, c, matches with the results obtained in the high momentum transfer limit by inelastic neutron and x-ray scattering. These results strongly support the viscoelastic interpretation of the dynamics of water. Hence, we propose to call c the high-frequency speed of sound and to abandon the term fast sound, which recalls a propagation mechanism through lighter atoms, like in gas mixtures.

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  • Received 3 October 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.225701

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. C. Santucci1,2,3, D. Fioretto2,3, L. Comez2,3, A. Gessini1, and C. Masciovecchio1

  • 1Sincrotrone Trieste, s.s. 14, km 163.5, 34012 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
  • 2Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Perugia, Via Pascoli, 06100 Perugia, Italy
  • 3CRS SOFT-INFM-CNR, c/o Università di Roma La Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy

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Vol. 97, Iss. 22 — 1 December 2006

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