Temperature dependence studies of the liquid structure of GaSb by neutron diffraction

The liquid structure of GaSb has been investigated by neutron diffraction for temperatures ranging from 800 to 1050 degrees C. In contrast with expectations from viscosity measurements, no drastic change in structure was observed over this temperature range. However, the structure factor S(Q) presented a shoulder on the high-Q side of its first peak at all temperatures, suggesting the existence of short-range ordering in the molten state. The radial distribution function shows 5.4+or-0.5 atoms up to the second-nearest neighbours. The data can be explained by a structural model based on beta -Sn-like short-range order. The anomalous temperature dependence of the viscosity is also discussed with this structural model of the molten state.