The favored cluster structures of model glass formers

We examine the favored cluster structures for two new interatomic potentials, which both behave as monatomic model glass formers in bulk. We find that the oscillations in the potential lead to global minima that are noncompact arrangements of linked 13-atom icosahedra. The structural properties of the clusters correlate with the glass forming propensities of the potentials, and with the fragilities of the corresponding supercooled liquids. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.