### CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF $beta$-HgCRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF $beta$-Hg

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 Author Atoji, M. ♦ Schirber, J. E. ♦ Swenson, C. A. Sponsorship USDOE Source United States Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information Content type Text Language English
 Subject Keyword METALS, CERAMICS, AND MATERIALS ♦ ALLOTROPY ♦ CAMERAS ♦ CONTROL SYSTEMS ♦ CRYOSTATS ♦ CRYSTALLIZATION ♦ CRYSTALS ♦ LATTICES ♦ LOW TEMPERATURE ♦ MERCURY ♦ PRESSURE ♦ SUPERCONDUCTIVITY ♦ X RADIATION Abstract The crystal structure of beta -Hg, a pressure induced mcdification of mercury which is the stable form below 79 deg K, was determined. Whereas ordinary ( alpha ) mercury crystallizes in a simple rhombohedral lattice, beta - Hg is found to be a body-centered tetragonal with beta = 3.995 A, and b = 2.825 A at 77 deg K. Both phases are superconductors. A brief description of the low temperature x-ray cryostat and camera is given. The relation of alpha -Hg and beta -Hg to Pauling's resonating valence bond theory of metals is discussed. (auth) ISSN 00219606 Educational Use Research Learning Resource Type Article Publisher Date 1959-12-01 Publisher Department Iowa State Univ., Ames Journal Journal of Chemical Physics Volume Number 31 Organization Iowa State Univ., Ames