Coherent neutron scattering response from glassy glycerol

We report on inelastic neutron scattering measurements of fully deuterated glassy glycerol at temperatures between 15 K to 180 K. Incident energies of 40 and 100 meV and momentum transfers up to approximate to 12 Angstrom(-1) were used. Analysis of the static structure factor calculated as the zeroth-frequency moment of S(Q, omega) enabled us to derive valuable structural information on the intra- and intermolecular correlations. Generalized frequency distributions are derived from the spectra and are used to calculate the relevant thermodynamic properties of the material using a quasiharmonic approximation. Estimates are also made for the first order anharmonic effects. Some wave-vector-dependent effects, such as the reduced frequency moments of S(Q, omega) are also evaluated, and their physical meaning discussed in some detail.