kvasikristallisen

Kvasikristallinen is a term used in materials science to describe a state of matter that possesses long-range orientational order but lacks translational periodicity. This means that while the arrangement of atoms or molecules exhibits a repeating pattern in terms of their orientation, they do not form a regular, repeating lattice structure in all directions. This is in contrast to traditional crystalline solids, which have both orientational order and translational periodicity.

The concept of quasicrystals was first proposed by Dan Shechtman in 1984, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011 for his discovery. Quasicrystalline materials are characterized by their unique symmetry properties, which can include symmetries that are forbidden in conventional crystals, such as five-fold or ten-fold rotational symmetry. These symmetries arise from the specific arrangements of atoms, which often involve irrational ratios in their structural descriptions.

Quasicrystals are typically formed from alloys of metals, such as aluminum-manganese or aluminum-lithium-copper. They exhibit interesting physical properties, including high hardness, low friction, and good electrical resistivity. These properties make them potentially useful in various applications, such as coatings for tools, wear-resistant surfaces, and thermal barriers. Research continues to explore the formation, structure, and applications of these fascinating materials.