Anomalous structural evolution in Cu50Zr50 glass-forming liquids

The structural evolution of the Cu50Zr50 liquid and glass was determined from in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction measurements. The temperature dependence of the static X-ray structure factor for the glass was measured from room temperature to above the glass transition temperature. Data were obtained for equilibrium and supercooled liquids in a containerless environment using electrostatic levitation. The structure factors and the total pair correlation functions display an anomalous evolution, indicating a rapid acceleration of short-range atomic order in the liquid above, but near the glass transition temperature. This behavior contrasts sharply with that observed in high glass forming ability metallic liquids. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.