Dynamic structure of liquid. Observation of Van Hove correlation function

Understanding of atomic-scale liquid dynamics is poorer than that of solid. We demonstrate the experimental determination of Van Hove correlation function-a pair correlation function in real-space and time-of water and molten inorganic salt by using inelastic X-ray and neutron scattering, respectively. This approach makes it possible to depict the distance-dependent dynamics of liquid on the picosecond time-scale. Further advances in fundamental understanding of atomic-scale liquid dynamics is expected. (author)