title: First x-ray scattering studies on electrostatically levitated metallic liquids: demonstrated influence of local icosahedral order on the nucleation barrier.
abstract: To explain the unusual stability of undercooled liquids against crystallization, Frank hypothesized that the local structures of undercooled liquids contain a significant degree of icosahedral short-range order, which is incompatible with long-range periodicity. We present here the first direct experimental demonstration of Frank's complete hypothesis, showing a correlation between the nucleation barrier and a growing icosahedral short-range order with decreasing temperature in a Ti39.5Zr39.5Ni21 liquid. A new experimental facility, BESL (Beamline Electrostatic Levitation), was developed to enable the synchrotron x-ray structural studies on deeply undercooled, reactive liquids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Kelton
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gangopadhyay
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hyers
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Rathz
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Robinson