Eur. Phys. J. B 17, 595-601 (2000)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510070096

Correlation functions and the dynamical structure factor of quasicrystals

Institut für Theoretische und Angewandte Physik, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany

Received: 17 March 2000
Revised: 8 June 2000
Published online: 15 October 2000

Abstract

The icosahedral or decagonal symmetry of quasicrystals is well described by a periodic structure in higher dimensions. One consequence is the existence of dynamic phason modes in addition to the phonon modes. In an atomistic model phasons show up as correlated atomic jumps. We detect the phasons by the calculation of correlation functions and the dynamical structure factor in molecular dynamics simulations similar to the procedure used for phonons. In the simulations it is also possible to observe atomic jump processes directly. The models studied here represent icosahedral AlCuLi and decagonal AlCuCo quasicrystals. Ring processes are observed in the icosahedral case, and flips in the decagonal model.