Atomic dynamics in computer simulated amorphous Ni1-xZrx alloys

Results are reported about composition dependencies of the atomic motions mechanisms in amorphous metallic alloys from molecular dynamics simulations for supercooled, structurally arrested Ni0.5Zr0.5 and Ni0.8Zr0.2 samples. In the Zr-poor structure we find that about 80% of Ni transitions take place in form of cooperative processes, in the mid-concentration alloy 85% of the Ni transitions are single atom jumps, in agreement with experimental observations in the literature.