Liquid Metals Concepts and Theory [Paperback]

Explains the concepts needed to understand the properties of liquid metals.Liquid metals remain of both fundamental and technological interest and the concepts needed to understand their properties are set out in this book, starting from a survey of the basic experimental facts to be explained.Liquid metals remain of both fundamental and technological interest and the concepts needed to understand their properties are set out in this book, starting from a survey of the basic experimental facts to be explained.This comprehensive, research level introduction to the theory of liquid metals presents the concepts needed to understand the properties of these metals starting with a survey of the basic experimental facts. The quantitative theory of liquid pair correlation functions, effective ion-ion interactions, thermodynamic properties and electronic and atomic transport is then developed. The book also explores inelastic neutron scattering from bulk liquid metals, critical behavior, magnetism, the present understanding of the liquid metal surface, binary liquid metals, shock wave studies, liquid hydrogen plasmas and the constitution of red star giants. This is an informative text for advanced postgraduate students and researchers in condensed matter physics, theoretical physics, physical chemistry and theoretical chemistry.Preface; 1. Outline; 2. Pair correlation function and structure factors of ions; 3. Thermodynamics; 4. Electron screening and effective ion-ion interactions; 5. Inter-ionic forces and structural theories; 6. Statistical mechanics of inhomogeneous systems and freezing theory; 7. Electronic and atomic transport; 8. Hydrodynamic limits of correlation functions and neutron inelastic scattering; 9. Critical behaviour; 10. Electronic states, including critical region; 11. Magnetism of normal and especially of expanded liquid metals; 12. Liquid-vapour surface; 13. Binary liquid metal alloys; 14. Two-component theory of pure liquid metals; 15. Shock wavel“…