Atomic dynamics of icosahedral Zn63Mg26.3Y10.7 studied by neutron inelastic scattering

Abstract The dynamic structure factor of ZnMgY has been determined using neutron inelastic scattering techniques. From the time-of-flight spectra also the generalized vibrational density of states (GVDOS) was determined, which was used to calculate the temperature dependence of some of the thermodynamic properties like the vibrational heat capacity. The GVDOS of icosahedral ZnMgY consists of two main bands. The main dominant band at lower energies is composed of three subbands. This is characteristically different from the GVDOS of the Mackay type of icosahedral alloys investigated so far. The more pronounced separation of the subbands seems to be characteristic for the GVDOS of Frank–Kasper type of icosahedral quasicrystals.