Measurements of metallic glass structures under conditions of high spatial resolution

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Abstract
The structure of the boron-rich metallic glass Ni64B36 has been investigated by neutron diffraction under conditions of high spatial resolution. Three specimens with different isotopic abundances have been examined and the total radial distribution functions (RDF) and the more fundamental pair correlation functions have been obtained. A comparison between these data suggests that caution is needed in the interpretation of the total RDF of metallic glasses at high resolution. Even when the first-neighbour peak is split into distinct components, it may be impossible to make an unequivocal identification of the atomic correlations involved, as might be the case, say, for a locally ordered conventional glass. This suggests, for metallic glasses at least, that measurements at high resolution cannot be a true substitute for the proper derivation of pair correlation functions in the way that has sometimes been suggested in the past.