The atomic motions in crystals are correlated. In this paper we demonstrate that information about the correlated
motion of atoms, and consequently about the bonding within the crystal, can be obtained by analyzing the
peak width of the atomic pair distribution function (PDF). We have measured the PDFs of Ni and InAs using
synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The analysis of the Ni data allowed us to determine the Debye temperature
which is in good agreement with values found in the literature. In contrast to the isotropic metallic bonding
in Ni resulting in a relatively weak correlation between the motion of neighboring atoms, we found a very
strong correlation in InAs as one might expect from the covalent bond between In and As. The results are
compared with theoretical predictions by Chung and Thorpe (Phys.
Rev. B
1977, 55, 1545).