DENSITY EFFECT ON MOLECULAR-BOND LENGTH IN FLUID I-2 BY X-RAY-ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

Precise measurements of x-ray absorption spectra above the I K-edge bo th in the low-density gas in a wide temperature range and in the liqui d along the coexistence curve have been performed, By using an advance d data analysis procedure it was possible, for the first time, to reve al changes in the structure of the I-2 molecule in the liquid as a fun ction of density. The relevance of these changes and the possible corr elations with other peculiar properties of liquid I-2, and in particul ar with the metallization transition observed in the liquid under pres sure, are discussed. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.