Vol. 30, Issue 4, pp. 701-707
Abstract
The present contribution is dedicated to a molecular dynamics (MD) study of the structure of rarefied lead-germanate glasses of composition PbGeO3. The simulations have been performed in the constant volume regime for systems with densities of 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6285 kg/m3, using a two-body potential (Born-Mayer repulsive forces, and Coulomb forces due to full ionic charges). The information on short-range correlations was obtained in a conventional way (from radial and angular distribution functions), while the middle-range order was studied via cation-anion ring analysis. In the paper the short and medium range order in the rarefied glasses is discussed and compared with the structure of the PbGeO3 glass in normal conditions.