Structure model of the Al-Cu-Co decagonal quasicrystal

Abstract

A structure model for the decagonal quasicrystals AlCuCo and AlNiCo is proposed. The model agrees with available experimental data, i.e., with three-dimensional and five-dimensional Patterson analysis of x-ray-diffraction data and with direct-space atomic patterns found by high-resolution electron microscopy. The model allows for a dualistic description. It can be viewed both as a set of specifically decorated overlapping decagonal clusters and as a cutting and projecting of only two simple ``atomic surfaces.''