Bob Yirka is a research scientist at Phys.org.
The incidence of a quasicrystal formed during an accidental electrical discharge was found by a group of researchers.
The group described their study of a quasicrystal found in a sand dune.
Quasicrystals are similar to crystal substances. A non-repeating arrangement of atoms is one of the characteristics that they possess. The quasicrystals have been found in meteorites and nuclear blast debris. The researchers discovered one embedded in a sand dune.
It was shown in the study that the quasicrystal had 12-fold symmetry. The researchers were curious as to how it came to be in the sand dune. There was a power line that fell on the dune. The quasicrystal could have been produced by the electrical surge or the lightning.
According to the researchers, the quasicrystal was found inside of a tubular piece of fulgurite, which they believe was formed during the electrical surge due to the fusion of sand and metal from the power line.
Researchers used an electron microscope to make out the composition of the quasicrystal. They found bits of glass that said that the temperature inside the sand dune during the electrical discharge had to have been at least 1,710 degrees Celsius. There was an area of transition between melted aluminum alloy and silicate glass. The object they were studying was a quasicrystal and had a previously unseen composition.
According to the researchers, finding a quasicrystal in such a place suggests that others are out there, as well, having formed due to lightning strikes or downed power lines. Techiniques could be created in the lab as a result of their work.
The electrical discharge causes quasicrystal formation in an eolian dune. 10.1073/pnas.
Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
There is a science network.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
