Structure of liquid gallium under high pressure

Yagafarov, O.; Katayama, Yoshinori; Brazhkin, V. V.*; Lyapin, A. G.*; Saito, Hiroyuki

Gallium has a unique crystal structure which has Ga as building blocks. Many phases are found as function of temperature and pressure. The structure of liquid cannot be described as a simple hard-sphere model. In this study, details of structural changes of liquid under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions were investigated using modern measurement and analysis methods, reliable density data, a quasi-crystalline model and a reverse Monte Carlo method. The energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements along the melting curve up to 5.3 GPa were carried using a cubic-type multi-anvil press installed on a JAEA beamline, BL14B1, in SPring-8. Structural change towards a simple-liquid like structure was observed.