X-ray diffraction study of liquid Cs up to 9.8 GPa.
We describe an x-ray diffraction study of liquid Cs at high pressure and temperature conducted in order to characterize the structural changes associated with the complex melting curve and phase transitions observed in the solid phases. At 3.9 GPa we observe a discontinuity in the density of the liquid accompanied by a decrease in the coordination number from about 12 to 8, which marks a change to a nonsimple liquid. The specific volume of liquid Cs, combined with structural analysis of the diffraction data, strongly suggest the existence of dsp(3) electronic hybridization above 3.9 GPa, similar to that reported on compression in the crystalline phase.
Falconi
S
S
School of Physics and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, The University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom.
Lundegaard
L F
LF
Hejny
C
C
McMahon
M I
MI