Neutron Diffraction and Atomic Distribution in Liquid Lead and Liquid Bismuth at Two Temperatures

Abstract

Neutron diffraction patterns have been obtained on liquid lead and liquid bismuth at two temperatures. The patterns differ only slightly at the different temperatures, the main peak being slightly shorter and broader and shifted slightly to smaller angles at the higher temperatures. The diffraction patterns have been analyzed to obtain information on the atomic distribution. The first main peak in the distribution curve for liquid lead is at 3.40A and represents about 9.4 atoms. The first main peak in the curve for liquid bismuth is at 3.35A and represents about 7.7 atoms. The second most prominent concentration of atoms occurs at 6.6A for both lead and bismuth.