Medium-range interactions and structural complexity in aluminum-based intermetallic compounds

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Abstract
Aluminum–transition-metal compounds, at the aluminum end of their phase diagrams, form a fascinating variety of complex structures. We present a microscopic theory of the chemical trends in the phase stability of these complex structures based on a remarkably strong and long-range interaction between the transition-metal atoms in an aluminum host. The mechanism described here provides satisfactory explanation of the observed chemical trends. We also treat the effects of Cu on the transition-metal interactions.