Liquid-Aluminum Structure Factor by Neutron Diffraction

The structure factor $S\left(Q\right)\mathrm{}$ for liquid aluminum was measured at 703 and 1029 °C in the region $0<Q<\mathrm{}15\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{\AA }}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ using neutron-diffraction techniques. A description of the experimental apparatus and procedure is presented, as well as the method of reducing the neutron intensity to the structure factor. The results are compared with other simple liquid metals, and the electrical resistivity is calculated using the Ziman formulation. Excellent agreement is obtained between calculated and experimentally observed resistivity, both in absolute value and in temperature dependence. This agreement lends credence to both the measured structure factor and to the Ziman formulation for resistivity.