Using molecular-dynamics simulation with the embedded atom method, the dynamical properties of supercooled liquid Cu were studied by characterizing several time-correlation functions. With increasing undercooling of the liquid Cu below the melting point, self-diffusion slows down along with an increase in the structural relaxation time as compared with the normal liquid state. A massive structural rearrangement leading to incipient nucleation for crystallization occurs at a certain supercooling and time, underlying the existence of a transition in dynamical heterogeneities. Based on the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation times, a time-temperature-nucleation diagram has been constructed by which the relaxation, nucleation, and glass transition can be consistently correlated.
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