Continuity of short-range order at the melting/freezing point in rubidium

The structure factor of rubidium has been measured accurately by neutron diffraction close to the melting/freezing point. It is shown that there is no discontinuity in the diffuse scattering at the freezing point, although slowly changing behaviour in the liquid gives over to a rapid change in the solid. This implies that the short-range order is effectively continuous at the transition, despite the onset of long-range order. Some slight hysteresis is seen in the diffuse scattering between melting and freezing. (orig.)