Three-dimensional modulated structures in rapidly solidified transition-metal-silicon alloys

Abstract Different ternary transition-metal-silicon alloys have been investigated in a search for quasicrystal formation. In some of these alloys a complex three-dimensional modulated structure related to quasicrystals has been discovered. The underlying basic structure is cubic with a modulation along all six 〈110〉∗ directions. The wavevectors are, however, generally slightly variable along different 〈1l0〉∗ directions destroying the cubic symmetry.