Droplet Model for the Viscosity of Fluids near the Critical Point

Abstract
We generalize the droplet model introduced by Ackerson et al. to make it consistent with scaling laws for the free energy. We then use the model to predict a logarithmic divergence of the shear viscosity, in agreement with mode-coupling theories and experiment. We also study non-Newtonian (finite-shear-gradient) effects on the viscosity.