Cluster deviation degree in Lennard-Jones glass-forming liquid

Abstract It remains unclear how to describe the cluster packing pattern quantitatively in glass-forming liquid. Here the atomic structures of Lennard-Jones glass-forming liquid obtained by molecular dynamics simulations are investigated. Cluster deviation degree is proposed to quantitatively descript the disordered degree of cluster distribution. The results show that the cluster mean deviation degree follows a power-law behavior with temperature. The size of the central atom has an impact on the cluster deviation degree. The proposed concept provides a statistical approach to describe the cluster evolution during the glass-forming process and the structural distinction of metallic glasses.