Radial distribution function peaks and coordination numbers in liquids and in amorphous solids

Abstract

The molecular collision diameter R σ, location R gmaxl of the maximum of the principal peak of the binary radial distribution function g( R), and location R uminI of the principal minimum of the binary interaction potential u( R) are inter-related by R σ < R gmaxl ⩽ R uminI . The number of nearest neighbors z in liquids and in amorphous solids is contained between the values of four and eleven.