Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Classically exact surface diffusion constants at arbitrary temperature

Journal Article · · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.576017· OSTI ID:6317971

An expression is presented for computing the classical diffusion constant of a point defect (e.g., an adatom) in an infinite lattice of binding sites at arbitrary temperature. The transition state theory diffusion constant is simply multiplied by a dynamical correction factor that is computed from short-time classical trajectories initiated at the site boundaries. The time scale limitations of direct molecular dynamics are thus avoided in the low- and middle-temperature regimes. The expression results from taking the time derivative of the particle mean-square displacement in the lattice-discretized coordinate system. Applications are presented for surface diffusion on fcc(100) and fcc(111) Lennard-Jones crystal faces.

Research Organization:
Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
OSTI ID:
6317971
Journal Information:
J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 7:3; ISSN JVTAD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English