Non-close-packed three-dimensional quasicrystals

J Phys Condens Matter. 2017 Jun 14;29(23):234005. doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/aa6cc1. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Abstract

Quasicrystals are frequently encountered in condensed matter. They are important candidates for equilibrium phases from the atomic scale to the nanoscale. Here, we investigate the computational self-assembly of four quasicrystals in a single model system of identical particles interacting with a tunable isotropic pair potential. We reproduce a known icosahedral quasicrystal and report a decagonal quasicrystal, a dodecagonal quasicrystal, and an octagonal quasicrystal. The quasicrystals have low coordination number or occur in systems with mesoscale density variations. We also report a network gel phase.