ON THE THEORY OF DIFFUSION IN AMORPHOUS METALS

Diffusion in solids with random activation energy of individual jumps is analyzed. The experimentally observed relation between the activati on energies of diffusion for metal glasses and for the corresponding c rystals is explained under reasonable assumptions. The activation ener gy is shown to be not the most probable buth rather close to the minim um allowed (by the percolation mechanism) activation energy of individ ual jumps. For an interstitial solute the activation energy parametric ally depends on the mean solute concentration. The expression for the diffusion coefficient is obtained. The short-range diffusion is also c onsidered.