XAS INVESTIGATION OF 3-BODY CORRELATIONS IN LIQUID HG

A new analysis is presented of the structure of liquid mercury at atmo spheric pressure based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) experime nts performed at the L3-edge of Hg (12284 eV) at 238 K and 299 K. The data have been analyzed in the framework of the multiple scattering (M S) theory and, for the first time, clear evidence for MS contributions due to equilateral triangular arrangements of the Hg atoms in the liq uid phase has been found. The results demonstrate the ability of the X AS technique in probing higher-order correlation functions in liquid m etals.