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X-Ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy Reveals Intermittent Aging Dynamics in a Metallic Glass

Zach Evenson, Beatrice Ruta, Simon Hechler, Moritz Stolpe, Eloi Pineda, Isabella Gallino, and Ralf Busch
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 175701 – Published 21 October 2015
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Abstract

We use coherent x rays to probe the aging dynamics of a metallic glass directly on the atomic level. Contrary to the common assumption of a steady slowing down of the dynamics usually observed in macroscopic studies, we show that the structural relaxation processes underlying aging in this metallic glass are intermittent and highly heterogeneous at the atomic scale. Moreover, physical aging is triggered by cooperative atomic rearrangements, driven by the relaxation of internal stresses. The rich diversity of this behavior reflects a complex energy landscape, giving rise to a unique type of glassy-state dynamics.

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  • Received 11 July 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.175701

© 2015 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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A Bumpy Ride for Atoms

Published 21 October 2015

Aging in metallic glasses occurs via intermittent rearrangements of the atoms and is not a steady, continuous process as previously thought.

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Authors & Affiliations

Zach Evenson1,2,*, Beatrice Ruta3, Simon Hechler4, Moritz Stolpe4, Eloi Pineda5, Isabella Gallino4, and Ralf Busch4

  • 1Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) and Physik Department, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
  • 2Institut für Materialphysik im Weltraum, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), 51170 Köln, Germany
  • 3ESRF—The European Synchrotron, CS40220, 38043 Grenoble, France
  • 4Chair of Metallic Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, Campus C6.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
  • 5Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya–BarcelonaTech, Esteve Terradas 8, Castelldefels 08860, Spain

  • *zachary.evenson@frm2.tum.de

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 17 — 23 October 2015

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