On the Kinetic Theory of Dense Fluids

In this paper we analyze the Rice—Allnatt kinetic equations using a formal perturbation expansion in which the lifetime of dynamical coherence plays a fundamental role. It is shown that: (a) In the limit of short dynamical coherence time, the Rice—Allnatt equations are a valid description of steady-state transport phenomena in a liquid, (b) The Kirkwood time-smoothing hypothesis is a natural expression of the nature of the coherence time expansion, (c) The use of a separable intermolecular potential, the instantaneous nature of rigid-core collisions, and the nature of time smoothing all have interesting consequences for the derivation of Markovian kinetic equations from the Liouville equation.