EVIDENCE FOR A SUPERCOOLED PLASTIC-CRYSTAL PHASE IN SOLID ETHANOL

The existence of an orientationally disordered cubic phase of solid et hanol is revealed by x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic measure ments. Such a phase, whose existence was postulated some time ago on t he basis of specific-heat measurements, is produced by quenching below some 95 K a plastic crystal formed upon melting and subsequent anneal ing of the topologically disordered (glassy) solid. The relevance of t he present findings for current discussions on glassy dynamics is anal yzed in some detail.