Neutron-diffraction measurements on liquid benzene

Abstract

We report on neutron-diffraction measurements of liquid benzene under standard thermodynamic conditions. The measurements are taken at two different incident neutron wavelengths to cover an extended Q range. The diffraction data are normalized and inelastic effects corrected, considering only the total sample scattering cross-section. To determine the molecular structure from the diffraction data, we have to introduce direction-dependent meansquare displacements for the carbon and deuterium atoms. An analysis is made of the pair distribution function in terms of a first-shell solid-like structure, and good agreement is found with previous x-ray measurements.