Combining X-ray scattering and EXAFS experiments for studying amorphous alloys of 3d transition metals with zirconium

The atomic structure of the amorphous alloys of several transition metals ( Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) with zirconium is studied in terms of partial paired co rrelation functions. The short-range order parameters, namely the shortest interatomic distances, coordination numbers, and the form of distribution f unctions, are compared and a correlation between the atomic structure and t he interaction between atoms of different sorts is established. The study o ffers the possibility to model the spatial distribution of atoms and the ph ysical properties of the analyzed alloys and predict the properties of new systems.