Phonons, phasons and atomic dynamics in quasicrystals

We review some of the results obtained for the study of phason, phonon and atomic dynamics in quasicrystals. In the framework of the hydrodynamic theory long-wavelength phason modes are characteristic of quasicrystal and are diffusive modes. Quenched-in phason mode gives rise to a characteristic diffuse scattering, observed in all the 'stable' icosahedral quasicrystals studied so far. In the AlPdMn icosahedral phase, above T = 500 degrees C, equilibrium phason modes are shown to be diffusive modes in agreement with the hydrodynamic theory. The lattice dynamics has been studied by inelastic neutron or X-ray scattering. Well defined acoustic modes are only observed for wavevectors smaller than 0.3 angstrom(-1). Above this value, the mode rapidly broadens as a result of mixing with higher energy modes. We show that the results can be interpreted using the concept of pseudo-Brillouin zone boundary and can qualitatively explain the differences observed in the response function of the ZnSc 1/1 approximant and its quasicrystalline counterpart. The observations are qualitatively and quantitatively reproduced using oscillating pair potentials, which open the route for a detailed analysis of the lattice dynamics at the atomic scale. An exceptional dynamical flexibility is also evidenced in the 1/1 approximant. A brief discussion on the implication of those results on the stabilizing mechanisms of quasicrystals is given at the end of the paper.