Incident photon-energy dependence of the electronic density of states in Pd_42.5Ni_7.5Cu₃₀P₂₀ metallic glass

Incident photon-energy dependence of photoemission spectra of Pd _42.5Ni_7.5Cu₃₀P₂₀ metallic glass was measured using a synchrotron radiation facility. Compared to the elemental Pd, Ni, or Cu metal, the electronic density of states of this extremely good glass-former is highly suppressed at the Fermi energy, which indicates the existence of covalent bonds in this metallic mixture. From the incident photon-energy dependence of the spectra, partial density of states of the Pd, Ni, and Cu elements can be estimated, which suggests the selective formation of Pd-P bonds using the Pd 4d states.