Relating activation of shear transformation zones to β relaxations in metallic glasses

The mechanisms of plastic deformation of glassy solids and structural origin of beta relaxation are two fundamental issues. We provide compelling experimental evidence that the activation of shear transformation zones (STZs) and beta relaxations in metallic glasses are directly related, and the activation energy of the beta relaxation and the potential-energy barriers of STZs are nearly equivalent. Our results suggest an intrinsic correlation among potential STZs, beta relaxation, and the inhomogeneous atomic structure of metallic glasses, which has implications for understanding the deformation mechanism and structural origin of beta relaxation in glasses.