Density Fluctuations in Fluids Having an Internal Degree of Freedom.

Abstract
The frequency spectrum of density fluctuations is calculated for a fluid whose molecules possess an internal degree of freedom which is weakly coupled to the translational degree of freedom of the fluid. Irreversible thermodynamics is used to obtain an equation of motion for the internal degree of freedom. This equation plus the linearized hydrodynamic equations are solved for the frequency spectrum of density fluctuations. The results are compared with a similar calculation involving a frequency dependent volume viscosity. The results are identical for structural relaxation but there is a difference for thermal relaxation. The origin of the difference is discussed and the magnitude of the difference is examined for CC14, and for CS2.