Intermediate-range order in permanently densified vitreous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$: A neutron-diffraction and molecular-dynamics study

The structure of pressure-densified vitreous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ has been investigated using neutron-diffraction and molecular-dynamics techniques. After compression to 16 GPa at room temperature, recovered samples have densities 20% higher than normal vitreous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ and show substantial changes in the first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP): an indication of modification in the intermediate-range order. The changes in the FSDP are due to increased frustration caused by the decrease in the Si-O-Si bond angle and a shift in the Si-Si and O-O correlations in the range of 4–8 Å toward lower distances.