Structure Factor and Phonon Dispersion in Liquid Pb–Li Eutectic

Abstract

Lead–lithium alloy in its eutectic form, i.e., Pb83Li17 is one of the most promising candidates for its application as liquid blanket in fusion reactor with its properties such as low melting point, high boiling point and appropriate absorption and activation cross section for neutrons. In the present paper, phonon frequencies and sound velocity of liquid Pb–Li eutectic are reported using theoretical formalism. Further, structural properties of Pb–Li eutectic are determined in a self-consistent way using temperature-dependent Debye–Waller factor-like term. The results suggest that the size effects have significant role in determining the elastic properties of Pb–Li eutectic, viz. sound velocity and phonon frequencies.