31. August 2015
The publication "Lattice dynamics of α-cristobalite and the Boson peak in silica glass" by Björn Wehinger, Alexeï Bosak, Keith Refson, Alessandro Mirone, Aleksandr Chumakov and Michael Krisch, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 27, 305401 (2015), marks a decisive step in the solution of the longstanding problem understanding the origin of the Boson peak in silica glass. The investigation by means of diffuse and inelastic x-ray scattering and lattice dynamics calculations from first principles allow for a direct comparison of the atomic motion in crystalline silica polymorphs and silica glass. The article was selected to illustrate the cover page of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol. 27, Nr. 30. The animation shows the intensity distribution of thermal diffuse scattering in 3D reciprocal space.