Correlations in nitrogen gas at room temperature

The neutron-diffraction pattern of nitrogen gas at room temperature has been measured at densities between 0·4 and 0·8 × 1022 molecules/cm3. These data are compared to model calculations to show that the anisotropic intermolecular potential probably reduces the height of the principal peak of the diffraction pattern, compared to its value for a spherical potential. By contrast the latter potential is shown to give good fit to the published data for liquid nitrogen at the triple point. It is concluded that this difference may be related to the difference in closest approach of molecules in these two states.