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High pressure studies to determine the effects of volume and temperature on the lattice dynamics of molecular solids: N/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/, CH/sub 4/. Progress report for period July 1, 1979 - June 30, 1980

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5440363· OSTI ID:5440363

The temperature dependence of the far infrared spectrum of ..cap alpha..-N/sub 2/ was studied for a sample at constant volume. The two modes observed near 50 and 72 cm/sup -1/ have frequencies which increase slightly with temperature. The integrated intensity of the mode near 50 cm/sup -1/ remains constant with temperature, within experimental uncertainty. The Grueneisen parameter of this mode was estimated to be approx. 3. A study of the volume dependence of the infrared spectrum of ..cap alpha..-N/sub 2/ is currently under progress. Two samples of solid CH/sub 4/ of different densities were grown. Grueneisen parameters of 2.6 and 3.1 were obtained for the librational mode and one translational mode in phase II. The former indicates an anisotropic intermolecular potential with a strong volume dependence. Changes in the spectrum indicate that the II-III phase transition involves a sudden, simultaneous tetragonal distortion of the lattice and ordering of the orientationally disordered molecules of phase II, with a slow reorientation of the ordered molecules. The librational mode of phase II does not go soft near the transition to the orientationally disordered phase I. The temperature dependence of the linewidth for this mode can be explained by a thermally activated reorientation of the ordered molecules in phase II with an activation energy of 60 cm/sup -1/.

Research Organization:
Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-79ER10443
OSTI ID:
5440363
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/10443-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English