Disordered Alloys Diffuse Scattering and Monte Carlo Simulations

This monograph reviews the subject of structural disorder in alloys and describes how structural information can be exploited to build sound theoretical descriptions in terms of modified Ising models. Scattering with thermal neutrons and x-rays prove to be complementary approaches to measure the weak diffuse scattering which provides detailed information about the disorder. The authors show how Monte Carlo methods are applied to determine the most realistic effective interactions among the alloying atoms. These results can be used as a benchmark for modern electronic structure calculations. Of more general interest, the limitations of scattering experiments in a determination of an interaction model, and thus also of the structure itself are discussed. Finally, simulations exhibit not only near-surface disordering due to frustration effects but also new possible surface - induced ordering phenomena. Accurate Monte Carlo simulations are used to test existing theories of wetting.