Pressure effect on the formation and the thermal stability of glassy Cu

Based on the EAM potential, the pressure effect on the formation and the thermal stability of glassy Cu is studied by using the molecular dynamics simulation method. The pair correlation function (PCF) and the pair analysis (PA) technique are used to characterize the structure of Cu solidified under different pressures. It is indicated that a higher pressure leads to a strong crystallization tendency during cooling. The glassy Cu formed under high pressures has a weakened icosahedral order, enhanced FCC-type and BCC-type orders and, therefore, a lower thermal stability.