A detailed comparison between the amorphous and the quasicrystalline stateof Al-Cu-Fe

We report on a comparison of electronic transport properties and the atomic structure between the amorphous and the quasicrystalline state. The sample s are prepared at T approximate to 4 or 77 K as amorphous thin films. After measuring the amorphous state as quenched and after different annealing st eps to approximately T = 700 K, the films are transformed into the quasicry stalline state and are measured again. The electronic transport of both pha ses as well as their atomic structure show many similarities, indicating th at a relationship between electronic and atomic features exists in both pha ses as in Hume-Rothery systems. A discussion is presented which is based on local atomic arrangements of the atoms within 'clusters' in the amorphous as well as in the quasicrystalline state. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.