Relating activation of shear transformation zones toβrelaxations in metallic glasses

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