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.