An incommensurate structure with cubic point group symmetry in rapidly solidified V-Ni-Si alloy

The incommensurate structure with an unusual diffraction pattern in a rapidly solidified V 6 Ni 16 Si 7 alloy is analysed and its reciprocal 'lattice' indexed using 18 basis vectors. This structure has some unique features, which are closely related to both conventional incommensurately modulated structures and quasi-crystals. However, it appears to differ from the latter two types of aperiodic structures in some important aspects.