Thermodynamics of the structural changes in the liquid Ge-Te system around the Te-rich eutectic composition

To clarify the thermodynamics of the structural changes in a liquid Ge-Te alloy around the Te-rich eutectic composition (15 at.% Ge), detailed measurements of the molar volume, sound velocity and specific heat measurements were performed. The crossover temperature manifested by a sharp extremum in those thermodynamic quantities takes a maximum around the eutectic composition where the peak width becomes most narrow. The structural changes are discussed in connection with the thermodynamic fluctuations. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.