Structural investigation of gallate glass using L3-edge extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy and computer simulation

Abstract L 3 -edge Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) studies have been carried out on a praseodymium gallate glass (Pr 3 Ga 5 O 12 ) prepared by aerodynamic levitation and laser heating. The short range ordering around the rare-earth has been obtained by combined technique including molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The results give an average Pr O coordination number of 6.68(2) and a mean Ga O coordination number of 4.29(2). A good agreement between the experimental data and the simple molecular dynamics simulations give rising a glass network of a Pr O polyhedral structure and a predominant GaO 4 tetrahedral network in this glass.