X-ray spectroscopy and local structures in glasses

Abstract

X-ray spectroscopy which is a combination of two techniques, namely x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses, is a unique technique for the study of local structures in glasses. Availability of synchrotron radiation sources has made the technique quite attractive and useful because the photon flux from synchrotrons is very intense and polarized. In this article, a brief summary of XANES and EXAFS techniques is given along with a few applications to the study of local structures in glasses.