We have performed high-quality X-ray absorption measurements on crystalline
(c-Te) and liquid (l-Te) tellurium. Performing a consistent analysis that
takes into account the contribution of the medium range structure, we have
determined reliable pair correlation functions in l-Te up to 3.5 Angstrom,
and we confirm the existence of stronger and weaker first-neighbour interac
tions, responsible of the band-gap filling at the Fermi level. A complete a
b initio multiple scattering calculation have been applied to evaluate temp
erature dependence of short-range properties in c-Te.