Mode coupling in critical phenomena and supercooled liquids

Abstract The mode coupling is introduced as a challenge to the traditional view of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics which assumes the existence of widely separated spatial and temporal scales characterizing dynamics of macroscopic systems. The application of mode coupling to critical dynamics is briefly explained, where one focuses on long distance and long time behavior. This is contrasted to supercooled liquids where emphasis is on short distance and long time behavior. Here we relate the mode coupling theory to the density functional theory of non-uniform liquids.