SHORT-RANGE AND MEDIUM-RANGE ORDER IN LITHIUM SILICATE CLASSES .2. SIMULATION OF THE STRUCTURE BY THE REVERSE MONTE-CARLO METHOD

The results of X-ray and neutron diffraction experiments with (Li2O)(x )(SiO2)(100-x) glasses (x = 0, 20, 33.3, and 40) are discussed using t he Reverse Monte Carlo method to produce atomic clusters, which are an alyzed with respect to the O-O distribution, the angular correlations within the first and higher coordination spheres, and the bond-orienta tional multipole moments, Within Li2O-containing silicate glasses, eac h lithium atom is surrounded by a ring of six SiO4 tetrahedra in such a way that four oxygen atoms lie at the joints of a tetragonal cell en tered by lithium. Thus, the lithium atoms increase the order of the gl ass.