Showing papers by "José M. Soler published in 1998"
TL;DR: The lowest energy structures of nanoclusters were obtained by unconstrained dynamical and genetic-symbiotic optimization methods, using a Gupta $n$-body potential.
Abstract: The lowest energy structures of ${\mathrm{Au}}_{n}$ ( $n\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}38,55,75$) nanoclusters are obtained by unconstrained dynamical and genetic-symbiotic optimization methods, using a Gupta $n$-body potential. A set of amorphous structures, nearly degenerate in energy, are found as the most stable configurations. Some crystalline or quasicrystalline isomers are also minima of the cluster potential energy surface with similar energy. First principles calculations using density functional theory confirm these results and give different electronic properties for the ordered and disordered gold cluster isomers.
333 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined theoretically the spontaneous thinning process of tip-suspended nanowires, and subsequently studied the structure and stability of the monatomic gold wires recently observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
Abstract: We have examined theoretically the spontaneous thinning process of tip-suspended nanowires, and subsequently studied the structure and stability of the monatomic gold wires recently observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The methods used include thermodynamics, classical many-body force simulations, Local Density (LDA) and Generalized Gradient (GGA) electronic structure calculations as well as ab-initio simulations including the two tips. The wire thinning is well explained in terms of a thermodynamic tip suction driving migration of surface atoms from the wire to the tips. For the same reason the monatomic wire becomes progressively stretched. Surprisingly, however, all calculations so far indicate that the stretched monatomic gold wire should be unstable against breaking, contrary to the apparent experimental stability. The possible reasons for the observed stability are discussed.
82 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the structure of pure nickel during the rapid quench of the liquid and in the resulting glass was studied using molecular dynamics simulations, with a realistic many-body embedded-atom potential, and a novel method to characterize local order.
Abstract: Using molecular dynamics simulations, with a realistic many-body embedded-atom potential, and a novel method to characterize local order, we study the structure of pure nickel during the rapid quench of the liquid and in the resulting glass. In contrast with previous simulations with pair potentials, we find more crystalline order and fewer icosahedra for slower quenching rates, resulting in a glass less stable against crystallization. It is shown that there is not a specific amorphous structure, only the arrest of the transition from liquid to crystal, resulting in small crystalline clusters immersed in an amorphous matrix with the same structure of the liquid.
18 citations