Neutron scattering study of atomic local order in amorphous Tbsub(x)Sisub(1-x) (x= 0.87, 0.59, 0.18)

Neutron scattering determination of the total structure factors of the amorphous Tbsub(x)Sisub(1-x) system has been performed for three compositions in order to determine the atomic arrangement and the evolution of the local order as a function of the silicon content. Comparison has been made with a conventional structural model consisting of a binary mixture of hard spheres of different diameters. Total pair correlation functions have been determined. We propose a model for the local order around both the terbium and the silicon atoms which is in reasonable agreement with the physical properties of the system. (author)