Formation of a dodecagonal quasicrystalline phase in a simple monatomic liquid

An equilibrium uniaxial dodecagonal quasicrystal is reported to be formed by a freezing simple monatomic liquid in a molecular dynamics simulation. Its diffraction pattern closely resembles that of the dodecagonal quasicrystalline phase formed in V₃Ni₂ and V₁₅Ni₁₀Si alloys, and the high-resolution electron micrograph obtained for the latter is found to be consistent with the corresponding pattern of atomic layer in the simulated quasicrystal. The simulated structure is discussed in the context of existing models of quasicrystalline order.