Response to “Comment on ‘The viscoelastic response of Brownian suspensions’?” [J. Chem. Phys. 114, 3339 (2001)]

Abstract

Our original article presented computer simulation results for the viscoelastic response of a simple model colloidal suspension. We compared our results for the viscosity with a theoretical prediction of Verberg et al. [R. Verberg, I. M. de Schepper, and E. G. D. Cohen, Phys. Rev. E 55, 3143 (1997)] and found poor agreement. It is suggested in the previous comment that a comparison with a modified expression is more appropriate. In response we explain the basis of our comparison and expand on how a different interpretation could be made, leading to an expression of the form Felderhof suggests is appropriate. Nonetheless, as stated in the comment, the agreement with simulation is poor, no matter which of the two possible theoretical expressions is used. We also seek to clarify our position concerning the form of the high frequency response at low volume fraction. Our finding is that the ratio of this to the high frequency response in the zero density limit is not the radial distribution function at contact, as predicted by Verberg et al. [R. Verberg, I. M. de Schepper, M. J. Feigenbaum, and E. G. D. Cohen, J. Stat. Phys. 87, 1037 (1997)], but is a rather smaller quantity.