Speaker
Description
Metallic glasses are ideal model systems for studying vitreous solids, yet linking atomic structure and its evolution in the potential energy landscape to mechanical properties remains a fundamental challenge. While structural rejuvenation is known to increase the Gibbs free energy and modify plastic deformation behavior, its microscopic origin, particularly the roles of medium-range order (MRO), excess volume and internal stresses remains poorly understood. Recent advances show that SHI irradiation can drive MGs into highly rejuvenated states, accessing PEL regions beyond conventional processing. We address the central hypothesis that SHI-induced modifications of MRO, coupled with redistribution and generation of excess volume govern the evolution of the energy landscape and thereby control mechanical response. Specifically, we aim to determine how nanoscale heterogeneity, introduced via controlled ion-track architectures, modifies the distribution of local activation barriers and drives the transition from localized shear-band plasticity to more homogeneous flow.