Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Soft spots and their structural signature in a metallic glass
Jun Ding1, Sylvain Patinet2, Michael L Falk3
1Departments of Materials Science and Engineering.
Abstract:
In a 3D model mimicking realistic Cu64Zr36 metallic glass, we uncovered a direct link between the quasi-localized low-frequency vibrational modes and the local atomic packing structure. We also demonstrate that quasi-localized soft modes correlate strongly with fertile sites for shear transformations: geometrically unfavored motifs constitute the most flexible local environments that encourage soft modes and high propensity for shear transformations, whereas local configurations preferred in this alloy, i.e., the full icosahedra (around Cu) and Z16 Kasper polyhedra (around Zr), contribute the least.
Related Concept Videos
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and...
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Non-Stoichiometric Defects
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects
Stress-Strain Diagram - Brittle Materials
Bonding in Metals

