Structure and vibrational modes of sulfur around the λ-transition and the glass-transition

Abstract In this paper we present a detailed temperature-dependence of Raman spectroscopic study of the vibrational modes of elemental sulfur around its polymerization transition or λ-point (Tλ) in order to elucidate the structural transformations. The considerable supercooling that liquid sulfur exhibits makes it possible to extend the light scattering study to ∼50 °C below melting point as well as to glassify sulfur by fast quenching the high temperature melt. Despite the apparent simplicity of sulfur, the determination of its structure has proved considerably puzzling. The results are discussed within the context of existing structural models for liquid sulfur.