Temperature dependence of the structure factor of liquid alkali metals

The temperature dependence of the structure factor, S(q), of liquid alkali metals is studied using a Percus-Yevick-tail reference system including a Cummings potential in a random phase approximation. The Cummings potential parameters, determined at the melting temperature for each metal are also used at higher temperatures and are found to be related to the atomic number of the metal. (orig.)