Scientists Uncover How Quasicrystals Form

Quick Summary

• Quasicrystals are a unique atomic configuration where atoms form ordered but non-repeating patterns, distinct from crystals adn glasses.
• Researchers at the University of Michigan, led by Wenhao Sun, studied two types of quasicrystals using advanced computer simulations: scandium-zinc and ytterbium-cadmium.
• Simulations revealed quasicrystals are highly stable due to their low atomic collective energy, challenging assumptions that they were metastable like glasses.
• The computational methods used innovatively avoided assumptions of perfect periodic atomic arrangements typical in older simulation techniques.
• Findings suggest that producing quasicrystals in laboratories requires precise conditions due to their rarity in nature.
• Quasicrystals exhibit extraordinary vibrational properties linked to heat conductivity and thermoelectric effects, paving the way for potential applications in advanced materials.

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