Quantum mechanical effects controlling the magnetic properties of transition metal based nanoglass

Abstract

In previous investigations, it was reported that transition metal-rich amorphous alloys consist of distorted bcc nano-clusters. Two types of amorphous metals are of interest due to their physical properties: (1) metallic glasses and (2) nanoglasses. Using the example of Fe90Sc10 alloys, this paper discusses quantum mechanical effects leading to new features and properties of these materials. The metallic glass Fe90Sc10 can be prepared by rapidly quenching the melt. In these materials, the atoms are structurally located next to each other without forming grain boundaries. Due to the variation of atomic distances, these metallic glasses are divided magnetically into nano-clusters. The second group of amorphous materials, called metallic nanoglasses, consists of amorphous nanometer-sized clusters (frequently called nanograins) with sizes of about 10 nm or less. These nanograins are interconnected by interfaces. One of the features of nanoglasses is the properties of their interfaces. The properties of interfaces seem to be controlled by quantum mechanical effects. In this paper, some of these quantum mechanical effects will be discussed based on the experimentally observed properties of Fe90Sc10 nanoglasses.