Mode-coupling theory of the large long-time tails in the stress-tensor autocorrelation function

A generalized mode-coupling theory that takes into account molecular-scale effects is presented. Thermodynamic as well as dissipative nonlinearities are included. The theory is used to calculate molecular-scale renormalizations or mode-coupling contributions to the zero-wave-number shear viscosity and to the time-dependent stress-tensor autocorrelation function. For a range of times the theory leads to a stress-tensor autocorrelation function that appears to decay as t^-3/2. The results are in reasonable agreement with computer simulations.