Dynamical properties of stable icosahedral alloys

Abstract

Results from theoretical investigations of the vibrational properties of quasicrystals are compared with those obtained so far for the atomic dynamics of stable icosahedral alloys by neutron inelastic scattering, especially using as an example the most recently studied icosahedral AlPdMn system. It is concluded that although many of the dynamical properties to be expected on the basis of the theoretical investigations of three-dimensional quasicrystals have been found in experiments done with stable icosahedral alloys, some very important questions concerning properties specific for quasiperiodic lattices like the existence of gaps or localization still await a final answer.