On the source of plastic flow in metallic glasses: Concepts and models

We briefly review the state-of-the-art study on plastic flow in metallic glasses. Especially, we survey the features and behaviors, percolation, and response of the basic deformation units to the activation of stress and temperature, and various models and notions on microscopic flow in metallic glasses. The discussion, comments and perspective on possible unified notation, terminologies and models on plastic flow in metallic glasses are presented. The purpose is to reach a consensus within the community with a hope to eventually unify the notations and models on the deformations in metallic glasses.