Short-Range Order in Metallic Glasses

Abstract

From a measurement and analysis of the extended fine structure on the Ge $K$-shell absorption cross section, we determine that the metalloid (Ge) nearest-neighbor environments in arc-quenched glassy ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{78}$ ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{22}$ and in sputtered amorphous ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{80}$ ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{20}$ are essentially identical. Conclusive evidence is presented for the occurrence of chemical ordering. The glass structure is shown to be substantially modified by the presence of the metalloids, bringing into question the applicability of models based upon a structure determined by the metal atoms alone.