QUASI-CRYSTALS AS A HIERARCHY OF CLUSTERS

Diffraction approaches suggest that some quasicrystal structures can b e described as hierarchical packing of atomic clusters. When treated a s spherical potentials, these clusters may contain ''magic numbers'' o f electrons which allow exact filling of the electronic shells of the hierarchy of wells. Physical properties such as high resistivity and d iamagnetism are consistent with the model. Formation of quasicrystals at very critical composition is also explained.