Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of the liquid and amorphous structure of Mg₆₅Cu₂₅Gd₁₀ alloy

The liquid and amorphous structures of Mg₆₅Cu ₂₅Gd₁₀ alloy were studied by using molecular dynamics methods within the frame of density functional theory. The generalized and partial pair correlation functions, structure factors, coordination numbers and bond pairs for this alloy were analyzed. It is shown that this alloy exhibit typical characterization of liquid structure at the temperature higher than 750 K, and of amorphous structure with shoulders on the second diffuse peaks of the pair correlation functions curves at room temperature. The local short and medium range ordering tends to be increased with the decrease of temperature. Both the liquid and the amorphous structures are mainly composed of icosahedral type of bond pairs. Perfect and distorted icosahedra can be differentiated from the atomic configuration of the amorphous alloy.