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Metallic Phase with Long-Range Orientational Order and No Translational Symmetry

D. Shechtman, I. Blech, D. Gratias, and J. W. Cahn
Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 1951 – Published 12 November 1984
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An article within the collection: Letters from the Past - A PRL Retrospective
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Abstract

We have observed a metallic solid (Al-14-at.%-Mn) with long-range orientational order, but with icosahedral point group symmetry, which is inconsistent with lattice translations. Its diffraction spots are as sharp as those of crystals but cannot be indexed to any Bravais lattice. The solid is metastable and forms from the melt by a first-order transition.

  • Received 9 October 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.53.1951

©1984 American Physical Society

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This article appears in the following collection:

Letters from the Past - A PRL Retrospective

2008 marked PRL’s 50th anniversary. As part of the celebrations a collection of milestone Letters was started. The collection contains Letters that have made long-lived contributions to physics, either by announcing significant discoveries, or by initiating new areas of research.

Authors & Affiliations

D. Shechtman and I. Blech

  • Department of Materials Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology- Technion, 3200 Haifa, Israel

D. Gratias

  • Centre d'Etudes de Chimie Métallurgique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-94400 Vitry, France

J. W. Cahn

  • Center for Materials Science, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20760

Comments & Replies

Distinguishing a Quasicrystal from an Icosahedral Glass Via Lattice Imaging

Paul J. Steinhardt
Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 2769 (1986)

Stephens and Goldman Respond

Peter W. Stephens and Alan I. Goldman
Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 2770 (1986)

See Also

Nobel Prize–Discovery of Quasicrystals

Don Monroe
Phys. Rev. Focus 28, 14 (2011)

References

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Issue

Vol. 53, Iss. 20 — 12 November 1984

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