By sequential heat treatment of a Pd_(40)Ni_(40)P_(20) metallic glass at temperatures and durations for which
α-relaxation is not possible, dynamic, and quasistatic relaxation paths below the glass transition are
identified via ex situ ultrasonic measurements following each heat treatment. The dynamic
relaxation paths are associated with hopping between nonequilibrium potential energy states of the
glass, while the quasistatic relaxation path is associated with reversible β-relaxation events toward
quasiequilibrium states. These quasiequilibrium states are identified with secondary potential energy
minima that exist within the inherent energy minimum of the glass, thereby supporting the concept
of the sub-basin/metabasin organization of the potential-energy landscape
