Origin of the first sharp diffraction peak in the structure factor of covalent glasses

Abstract

A model is proposed for the first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) in glasses. The FSDP is a chemical-order prepeak due to interstitial volume around cation-centered structural units. Calculated FSDP positions of some covalent glasses agree well with experiment, and the anomalous temperature and pressure dependences of the FSDP can be understood in terms of density effects. © 1991 The American Physical Society.