Reorientational relaxation of a linear probe molecule in a simple glassy liquid

The mode-coupling theory (MCT) equations of motion for the dynamics of a hard-sphere dumbbell moving in a hard-sphere liquid were solved. Focus was on the evolution of the glassy dynamics of the reorientational degrees of freedom of a molecule. Results emphasize the importance of distinguishing between strong steric hindrance as found for large elongations of the dumbbell, and weak steric hindrance as found for small elongations.