On the origin of the splitting of the second maximum in the radial distribution function of amorphous solids

The splitting of the second maximum of the radial distribution function of an irregular atomic packing is regarded as an indication of the amorphous state of a substance. This paper describes the splitting-forming atomic configurations using Delaunay simplices, representing chains of elementary configurations. It is shown that the splitting is formed of chains in which all simplices are nearly regular tetrahedra and quartoctahedra. Translated fromZhumal Struktumoi Khimii, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 78–88, January–February, 1997.