Nearly-Free-Electron Approach to the Theory of Metallic Glass Alloys

A nearly-free-electron model for explaining the relative stability of some metallic alloys against crystallization is proposed. Arguments are presented which show that in an alloy the maximum stability corresponds to the composition for which the Fermi level lies at a minimum of the density of states. In this case any small enough perturbation around this configuration will increase the total electron energy. This approach predicts the correct composition range of metal glasses.