Ternary alloys with various compositions were produced by the sequential and gradual sputtering of elemental thin films. The resultant multi-layers were then subjected to various heat treatments in order to promote phase formation by interdiffusion. A long-period superlattice, AuCu3II, was found among the various phases. The microstructure of this phase contained growth stacking faults and twins. The defect formation was explained in terms of a semi-quantitative model that was based upon the electron theory of metals.

I.Goldfarb, E.Zolotoyabko, M.Bamberger: Philosophical Magazine A, 1995, 72[4], 981-96