PDFfit2 is a program as well as a library for real-space refinement of crystal structures. It is capable of fitting a theoretical three-dimensional (3D) structure to atomic pair distribution function data and is ideal for nanoscale investigations. The fit system accounts for lattice constants, atomic positions and anisotropic atomic displacement parameters, correlated atomic motion, and experimental factors that may affect the data. The atomic positions and thermal coefficients can be constrained to follow the symmetry requirements of an arbitrary space group. The PDFfit2 engine is written in C++ and is accessible via Python, allowing it to inter-operate with other Python programs. PDFgui is a graphical interface built on the PDFfit2 engine. PDFgui organizes fits and simplifies many data analysis tasks, such as configuring and plotting multiple fits. PDFfit2 and PDFgui are freely available via the Internet.

We report the observation of local structural dipoles that emerge from an undistorted ground state on warming, in contrast to conventional structural phase transitions in which distortions emerge on cooling. Using experimental and theoretical probes of the local structure, we demonstrate this behavior in binary lead chalcogenides, which were believed to adopt the ideal, undistorted rock-salt structure at all temperatures. The behavior is consistent with a simple thermodynamic model in which the emerging dipoles are stabilized in the disordered state at high temperature due to the extra configurational entropy despite the fact that the undistorted structure has lower internal energy. Our findings shed light on the anomalous electronic and thermoelectric properties of the lead chalcogenides. Similar searches may show that the phenomenon is more widespread.

The program DISCUS is a versatile tool for the analysis of diffuse scattering and for defect structure simulations. The model structure can be created from an asymmetric unit of a unit cell or a complete structure can be read from a file. A Fortran77 style interpreter that includes IF statements and various loops combined with predefined defect types like thermal displacements, waves and microdomains allows one to create all sorts of defect structures. The Fourier-transform segment of the program allows one to calculate neutron as well as X-ray intensities including isotropic temperature factors and anomalous scattering. The calculation of the inverse and difference Fourier transform as well as the Patterson function is also implemented. A model structure can be 'fitted' to observed diffuse scattering data by reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulations. The RMC segment allows one to model displacive as well as occupational disorder. The program is completely written in Fortran77 and the source code is available via the World Wide Web.

Recent neutron scattering and specific heat studies on the pyrochlore Yb2Ti2O7 have revealed variations in its magnetic behavior below 265mK. In the best samples, a sharp anomaly in the specific heat is observed at T=265mK. Other samples, especially single crystals, have broad features in the specific heat which vary in sharpness and temperature depending on the sample, indicating that the magnetic ground state may be qualitatively different in such samples. We performed detailed comparisons of the chemical structure of a pulverised single crystal of Yb2Ti2O7, grown by the floating zone technique, to a sintered powder sample of Yb2Ti2O7. Rietveld refinements of neutron powder diffraction data on these samples reveal that the crushed single crystal is best described as a "stuffed" pyrochlore, Yb2(Ti2−xYbx)O 7−x/2 with x = 0.046(4), despite perfectly stoichiometric starting material. Substituting magnetic Yb 3+ on the non-magnetic Ti 4+ sublattice would introduce random exchange bonds and local lattice deformations. These are expected to be the mechanism leading to of the variation of the delicate magnetic ground state of Yb2Ti2O7. Determination of the cubic cell length, a, could be useful as a method for characterizing the stoichiometry of nonpulverised single crystals at room temperature.PACS numbers: