Total-energy-based prediction of a quasicrystal structure

Quasicrystals are metal alloys whose noncrystallographic symmetries challenge traditional methods of structure determination. We employ quantum-based total-energy calculations to predict the structure of a decagonal quasicrystal from first-principles considerations. Our Monte Carlo simulations take as input the knowledge that a decagonal phase occurs in Al-Ni-Co near a given composition and use a limited amount of experimental structural data. The resulting structure obeys a nearly deterministic decoration of tiles on a hierarchy of length scales related by powers of tau, the golden mean.