Photonic dualism of icosahedral quasicrystals

Here we report on fabrication of 3D submicron-size dielectric icosahedral quasicrystals and show a photonic dualism of these structures. Relying on far-field measurements, we found pronounced patterns of unconventional Bragg diffraction, which indicates the existence of multiple photonic pseudogaps.

PyQCstrc.ico: a computing package for structural modelling of icosahedral quasicrystals

The atomic structure of quasicrystals (QCs) is described as a section of a higher-dimensional structure that consists of a periodic arrangement of occupation domains (ODs). Determination of the shape of ODs and their partitioning is crucial in the structural analysis of QCs. However, owing to the complicated shape of ODs, building the initial structure model requires a great deal of time and effort. Thus, a computer program for building structure models of QCs is needed. Presented here is a Python3 package for structure modelling of icosahedral QCs.

Long-range magnetic order in real icosahedral quasicrystals

Quasicrystals (QCs), first discovered in 1984, generally do not exhibit long-range magnetic order. Here, we report on long-range magnetic order in the real icosahedral quasicrystals (i QCs) Au–Ga–Gd and Au–Ga–Tb. The Au65Ga20Gd15 i QC exhibits a ferromagnetic transition at TC = 23 K, manifested as a sharp anomaly in both magnetic-susceptibility and specific-heat measurements. Quick magnetic saturation to almost the full moment (7μB/Gd3+) is observed under 100 Oe at 2 K. This is the first observation of long-range magnetic order in a real quasicrystal, in contrast to the spin-glass-like behaviours observed for the other magnetic quasicrystals found to date. Moreover, when Gd is replaced by Tb, i.e. for the Au65Ga20Tb15 i QC, a ferromagnetic behaviour is still retained with TC = 16 K. Although the sharp anomaly in the specific heat observed for the Au65Ga20Gd15 i QC is significantly broadened upon Tb substitution, neutron-diffraction experiments clearly show the marked development of magnetic Bragg peaks below TC, indicating long-range magnetic order for the Au65Ga20Tb15 i QC also. Our findings can contribute to the further investigation of exotic magnetic orders formed on real quasiperiodic lattices with unprecedented highest global symmetry, i.e. icosahedral symmetry.

Concomitant singularities of Yb-valence and magnetism at a critical lattice parameter of icosahedral quasicrystals and approximants

Non-Fermi-liquid (NFL), a significant deviation from Fermi-liquid theory, usually emerges near an order-disorder phase transition at absolute zero. Recently, a diverging susceptibility toward zero temperature was observed in a quasicrystal (QC). Since an electronic long-range ordering is normally absent in QCs, this anomalous behaviour should be a new type of NFL. Here we study high-resolution partial-fluorescence-yield x-ray absorption spectroscopy on Yb-based intermediate-valence icosahedral QCs and cubic approximant crystals (ACs), some of which are new materials, to unveil the mechanism of the NFL. We find that for both forms of QCs and ACs, there is a critical lattice parameter where Yb-valence and magnetism concomitantly exhibit singularities, suggesting a critical-valence-fluctuation-induced NFL. The present result provides an intriguing structure–property relationship of matter; size of a Tsai-type cluster (that is a common local structure to both forms) tunes the NFL whereas translational symmetry (that is present in ACs but absent in QCs) determines the nature of the NFL against the external/chemical pressure.

Ageing of Al-Mn-Cu-Be Alloys for Stimulating Precipitation of Icosahedral Quasicrystals

In this work, the ageing of some Al-Mn-Cu-Be alloys was investigated in the temperature range in which predominantly icosahedral quasicrystalline (IQC) precipitates can form. The alloys were cast into a copper mould, directly aged (T5 heat treatment) between 300 and 440 °C for different times. Afterwards, they were examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and hardness testing. The main aim of the work was to determine the conditions at which a high number density of spherical icosahedral quasicrystalline precipitates can form. The highest number density of IQC precipitates was obtained at 300 °C after prolonged ageing. The spheroidal precipitates had a diameter less than 20 nm. The size of IQC precipitates increased with the increasing temperature, and in addition, decagonal quasicrystalline precipitates appeared. The time to maximum hardness decreased strongly with increasing ageing temperature. The IQC precipitates can form in a fairly broad temperature range in Al-Mn-Cu-Be alloys and that by varying ageing temperature and duration, rather different distributions of precipitates can be obtained. The presence of precipitates caused rather strong aluminium alloys and fast work hardening during initial plastic deformation.

Influence of Ag Addition on Thermal Stability and Thermophysical Properties of Ti-Zr-Ni Quasicrystals

We study the effects of Ag addition on thermal stability and thermophysical properties of Ti-Zr-Ni icosahedral quasicrystals. The Ag addition results in increasing the coherence length and thermal stability of the icosahedral phase (i-phase) of the as-cast Ti35.2Zr43.8Ni21 alloy, which are maximized at around 4 at.% Ag addition. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electrostatic levitation (ESL) experiments reveal that the addition suppresses the i-phase decomposition on heating and cooling. We find that considerable amount of the i-phase remains in the samples processed by radiational cooling in ESL as the Ag concentration increases. These results demonstrate that Ag addition stabilizes the i-phase of the Ti35.2Zr43.8Ni21 alloy. No anomalous effect of Ag addition is found on density and viscosity of the Ti35.2Zr43.8Ni21 liquid.