Role of orientation in the structure and dynamics of a supercooled molecular liquid

We performed molecular-dynamics simulation on the pair correlation function, mean-square displacement, and self-part intermediate scattering function for supercooled liquid nitrogen dimers. Our simulation data showed that for the latter the orientational degree of freedom, if identified as a form of structural impediment, has the consequence of making more robust the structural arrest at decreasing temperature. This conclusion is consistent with the magnitude of the {λ} parameter determined in conjunction with the idealized mode-coupling theory for the description of the dynamics of {B} relaxation.