Critical region and metal–nonmetal transition in expanded fluid mercury: advanced evaluation of small-angle X-ray scattering data

The small-angle X-ray scattering data of expanded fluid mercury published in the literature were evaluated using a modified form of the Teubner–Strey equation for microemulsions together with the general treatment of two-phase systems according to Porod. The parameters obtained in the critical region and the metal–nonmetal (M–NM) transition are evidence of a nanoemulsion composed of M and NM domains. The structure of this emulsion is characterized by density, volume fraction and size parameters (average chord length, polydispersity) of the domains. On the basis of these parameters, a structural model for fluid mercury in the liquid–vapour critical region and the M–NM transition is developed. Analysis of the relationship between the volume fraction of the M domains and the electrical conductivity reveals that a percolation transition occurs, with a threshold located near the liquid–vapour critical density. This observation is consistent with recent theoretical developments.