Electronic structure of Mg–Zn-based compounds

Abstract

We present a comparison between calculated densities of states of the Laves phase MgZn₂ and hexagonal Mg₂₈Zn₆₅Y₇ and experimental results obtained using both X-ray emission and photoabsorption spectroscopy techniques. We show that there is general agreement between both sets of data for both alloys. We also point out that the two samples retain a metallic character, yet the hexagonal approximant of the Mg–Zn–Y quasicrystal family is less metallic than the Laves phase.

Keywords:

• band calculations
• electronic density of states
• electronic structure

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Professor Anne Sadoc for measurements at LURE and to Dr Herbert Mueller from Technical University, Vienna (Austria) for hospitality and help during Mg 3s, d measurements. We also acknowledge Professor An Pang Tsai, for providing well characterised samples. We are glad to point out how profitable have been discussions with Professor Uichiro Mizutani, Dr Jean Marie Dubois and Dr Marc de Boissieu.