APPLICATION OF THE EAM POTENTIALS TO THE STUDY OF DIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS OF LIQUID NOBLE AND TRANSITION METALS

Abstract

The embedded atom method (EAM) potentials, originally proposed for solid state calculations, have been applied to investigate the atomic transport property namely the diffusion coefficients of liquid Ni, Cu, Ag and Au. Two different liquid state theories, specifically the linearized Weeks–Chandler–Andersen (LWCA) theory and the Gibbs–Boguliubov variational method (GB) are used to evaluate the packing fraction near melting temperature. Calculated values for the diffusion coefficients are compared with the available experimental data. Results of variational calculations are found to be better in agreement. Results of calculations also allow us to conclude that the concerning EAM potentials are transferable to the study of atomic transport properties of liquid transition and noble metals.