Point-defect computer simulation including angular forces in bcc iron

New Method for Calculation of Radiation Defect Dipole Tensor and Its Application to Di-Interstitials in Copper

The effect of external and internal elastic strain fields on the anisotropic diffusion of radiation defects (RDs) can be taken into account if one knows the dipole tensor of saddle-point configurations of the diffusing RDs. It is usually calculated by molecular statics, since the insufficient accuracy of the available experimental techniques makes determining it experimentally difficult. However, for an RD with multiple crystallographically non-equivalent metastable and saddle-point configurations (as in the case of di-interstitials), the problem becomes practically unsolvable due to its complexity. In this paper, we used a different approach to solving this problem. The molecular dynamics (MD) method was used to calculate the strain dependences of the RD diffusion tensor for various types of strain states. These dependences were used to determine the dipole tensor of the effective RD saddle-point configuration, which takes into account the contributions of all real saddle-point configurations. The proposed approach was used for studying the diffusion characteristics of RDs, such as di-interstitials in FCC copper (used in plasma-facing components of fusion reactors under development). The effect of the external elastic field on the MD-calculated normalized diffusion tensor (ratio of the diffusion tensor to a third of its trace) of di-interstitials was fully consistent with analytical predictions based on the kinetic theory, the parameters of which were the components of the dipole tensors, including the range of non-linear dependence of the diffusion tensor on strains. The results obtained allowed for one to simulate the anisotropic diffusion of di-interstitials in external and internal elastic fields, and to take into account the contribution of di-interstitials to the radiation deformation of crystals. This contribution can be significant, as MD data on the primary radiation damage in copper shows that ~20% of self-interstitial atoms produced by cascades of atomic collisions are combined into di-interstitials.

Nanothermodynamics of large iron clusters by means of a flat histogram Monte Carlo method

The thermodynamics of iron clusters of various sizes, from 76 to 2452 atoms, typical of the catalyst particles used for carbon nanotubes growth, has been explored by a flat histogram Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm (called the σ-mapping), developed by Soudan et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 135, 144109 (2011), Paper I]. This method provides the classical density of states, gp(Ep) in the configurational space, in terms of the potential energy of the system, with good and well controlled convergence properties, particularly in the melting phase transition zone which is of interest in this work. To describe the system, an iron potential has been implemented, called "corrected EAM" (cEAM), which approximates the MEAM potential of Lee et al. [Phys. Rev. B 64, 184102 (2001)] with an accuracy better than 3 meV/at, and a five times larger computational speed. The main simplification concerns the angular dependence of the potential, with a small impact on accuracy, while the screening coefficients S(ij) are exactly computed with a fast algorithm. With this potential, ergodic explorations of the clusters can be performed efficiently in a reasonable computing time, at least in the upper half of the solid zone and above. Problems of ergodicity exist in the lower half of the solid zone but routes to overcome them are discussed. The solid-liquid (melting) phase transition temperature T(m) is plotted in terms of the cluster atom number N(at). The standard N(at)(-1/3) linear dependence (Pawlow law) is observed for N(at) >300, allowing an extrapolation up to the bulk metal at 1940 ±50 K. For N(at) <150, a strong divergence is observed compared to the Pawlow law. The melting transition, which begins at the surface, is stated by a Lindemann-Berry index and an atomic density analysis. Several new features are obtained for the thermodynamics of cEAM clusters, compared to the Rydberg pair potential clusters studied in Paper I.

Magnetic bond-order potential for iron

We present a magnetic bond-order potential (BOP) that is able to provide a correct description of both directional covalent bonds and magnetic interactions in iron. This potential, based on the tight binding approximation and the Stoner model of itinerant magnetism, forms a direct bridge between the electronic-structure and the atomistic modeling hierarchies. Even though BOP calculations are computationally more demanding than those using common empirical potentials, the formalism can be used for studies of complex defect configurations in large atomic ensembles exceeding 10(5) atoms. Our studies of dislocations in α-Fe demonstrate that correct descriptions of directional covalent bonds and magnetism are crucial for a reliable modeling of these defects.