Observation of an Anomalous Density Minimum in Vitreous Silica

Vitreous silica is known to have several anomalous variations in its physical properties including a temperature dependent density maximum. We report the results of high-resolution density relaxation experiments that conclusively show for the first time the existence of a density minimum for silica below its glass-transition temperature at approximately 950 degrees C. This unusual density-temperature relationship is shown to be consistent with the existence of a polyamorphic phase transition in silica with a negative Clapeyron slope.