NONLINEAR EFFECTS OF SOLVATION DYNAMICS

The nonlinear Smoluchowski-Vlasov equation is calculated to investigate nonlinear effects on solvation dynamics. While a linear response has been assumed for free energy in equilibrium solvent, the equation includes dynamical nonlinear terms. The solvent density function is expanded in terms of spherical harmonics for orientation of solvent molecules, and then only terms for l=0 and 1, and m=0 are taken. The calculated results agree qualitatively with that obtained by many molecular dynamics simulations. In the long-term region, solvent relaxation for a change from a neutral solute to a charged one is slower than that obtained by the linearized equation. Further, in the model, the nonlinear terms lessen effects of acceleration by the translational diffusion on solvent relaxation.