First principles calculation of the interdiffusion coefficient in binary alloys.

The atomic mechanisms of diffusion in alloys are complex due to the variations of migration energies with environment and the correlations induced by short-range order between the different components. We present a first-principles approach for calculating vacancy-mediated diffusion coefficients in crystalline binary alloys and apply it to obtain the interdiffusion coefficient of Al(1-x)Lix. The rigorous treatment of atomic migration indicates that short- and long-range order induces strongly correlated migration mechanisms that deviate from random walk behavior.