Partial dynamic structure factors in Ni 62 Nb 38 metallic glass

The total dynamic structure factors S(Q,E) in three Ni62Nb38 samples with different isotope content were investigated by inelastic neutron scattering, over a range of momentum and energy transfer: Q=0.5–5 A-1 and E=1–40 meV at the IN6 spectrometer (ILL, Grenoble, France). According to the Ashcroft–Langreth formalism, the partial dynamic structure factors SNiNi(Q,E), SNbNb(Q,E) and SNiNb(Q,E) were reconstructed. It is the first experimental observation showing the existence of collective vibrational excitations in the Ni62Nb38 metallic glass system at a partial dynamic structure factor level.