Origin of the compressibility anomaly in amorphous silica

Walker, A. M. and Sullivan, L. A. and Trachenko, K. and Bruin, R. P. and White, T. O. H. and Dove, M. T. and Tyer, R. P. and Todorov, I. T. and Wells, S. A. (2007) Origin of the compressibility anomaly in amorphous silica. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 19 (275210). p. 275210. DOI 10.1088/0953-8984/19/27/275210

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Abstract

We propose an explanation for the anomalous compressibility maximum in amorphous silica based on rigidity arguments. The model considers the fact that a network structure will be rigidly compressed in the high-pressure limit, and rigidly taut in the negative pressure limit, but flexible and hence softer at intermediate pressures. We validate the plausibility of this explanation by the analysis of molecular dynamics simulations. In fact this model is quite general, and will apply to any network solid, crystalline or amorphous; there are experimental indications that support this prediction. In contrast to other ideas concerning the compressibility maximum in amorphous silica, the model presented here does not invoke the existence of polyamorphic phase transitions in the glass phase.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2007 AREP 2007 P IA54 kot;
Divisions:	03 - Mineral Sciences
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume:	19
Page Range:	p. 275210
Identification Number:	10.1088/0953-8984/19/27/275210
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2009 13:04
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 10:08
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/776

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