Neutron spectroscopic investigation of dynamics of water ice

Quantitative studies of the properties of water require detailed investigation of the intramolecular and intermolecular interactions acting between the atoms and the molecules. Experimental information about the strength of the hydrogen bond interaction in water can be obtained directly by measuring its vibrational spectra. This is because a particular vibrational mode (or phonon) is determined by the interatomic force constants, which in turn are the double-differentials of the potential function at its minima. Therefore, measuring dynamical properties is one of the most powerful ways of investigating interatomic potentials in a given material. In this article we report series of inelastic neutron scattering studies for various forms of exotic ices, the aim of the investigation is to provide a better understanding of the nature of hydrogen bonding in water, which has considerable implications to large segment of scientific community for which the properties of water are important.