Long-range Finnis–Sinclair potentials

Abstract Finnis–Sinclair potentials are developed for computer simulations in which van der Waals type interactions between well separated atomic clusters are as important as the description of metallic bonding at short range. The potentials always favour f.c.c. and h.c.p. structures over the b.c.c. structure. They display convenient scaling properties for both length and energy, and a number of properties of the perfect crystal may be derived analytically.