Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations of short-range order in liquid Al80Mn20 and Al80Ni20 alloys

Atomic structures of liquid Al80Mn20 and Al80Ni20 have been calculated by first-principles molecular-dynamics simulations. For both liquid alloys, the local structure is characterized by a strong Al-TM (transition metal) affinity, which leads to a well-pronounced chemical short-range order. However, we show that the occurrence of magnetic moments localized on Mn atoms plays a key role in determining the short-range arrangement of Mn atoms which is also interpreted on the basis of the local fivefold symmetry.