How do quasicrystals grow?
Using molecular simulations, we show that the aperiodic growth of quasicrystals is controlled by the ability of the growing quasicrystal nucleus to incorporate kinetically trapped atoms into the solid phase with minimal rearrangement. In the system under investigation, which forms a dodecagonal quasicrystal, we show that this process occurs through the assimilation of stable icosahedral clusters by the growing quasicrystal. Our results demonstrate how local atomic interactions give rise to the long-range aperiodicity of quasicrystals.
Keys
Aaron S
AS
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2136, USA.
Glotzer
Sharon C
SC