Rayleigh scattering of depolarized light from liquid pyridine

•The depolarized Rayleigh light scattered in pyridine was performed from 0 to 2701/cm.•The spectra were measured in 10 different temperatures from 236 to 385 K.•Reorientational autocorrelation functions and memory functions are calculated.•The correlation times, diffusion coefficients and activation energy are estimated.•Experimental results have been compared with molecular dynamics simulation results.

Liquid pyridine was investigated by Rayleigh light scattering at a normal pressure, in the temperature range 236–385 K. The function of reorientation G(t), both the first K(t) and the second K(2)(t) memory functions [1], the autocorrelation time, the rotational diffusion coefficient and the activation energy for reorientation have been calculated from the measured depolarized Rayleigh wing. The results are summarized in tables and shown in figures. Molecular dynamics (MD) testing simulations were made to obtain more interesting data on pyridine.