Neutron Diffraction Investigation of Vitreous Germania

The neturon diffraction pattern of vitreous germania is explained using the model of randomly oriented tetrahedra linked at corner oxygen atoms. The atomic radial distribution function calculated from the data gives 1.73, 2.83, and 3.45 Å as the Ge–O, O–O, and Ge–Ge interatomic distances, respectively. The number of atoms coordinated at these distances is 3.9, 5.9, and 4.3, respectively.