Neutron Scattering by Fluids and the Law of Corresponding States

Abstract

It is shown that the classical law of corresponding states implies correspondences in the time-displaced pair correlations of fluids, and also in the cross sections for neutron and x-ray scattering. A measurement of the scattering at one temperature and pressure by one fluid of a class of fluids can thus be used to determine the scattering at corresponding temperatures and pressures of all fluids of the class. Other applications, in the study of molecular fluids and in the separation of the self-correlation from the general correlation, are pointed out.