Anharmonic effects on Be(0 0 0 1): A molecular dynamics study

Using molecular dynamics simulations and a modified analytic embedded atom method (MAEAM), the anharmonic effects of Be(0 0 0 1) surface have been studied in the temperature range from 0 K to 1400 K. The temperature dependence of the interlayer separation, mean square vibrational displacement, phonon frequencies and phonon line width, and layer structure factor are calculated. The obtained results for temperature dependence of interlayer separation and mean square displacement show that the anharmonic effects are small in the temperature range from 0 K to 1100 K. The calculated layer order parameters indicate that Be(0 0 0 1) surface loses its long-range translational order, but do not premelt up to 50 K below the bulk melting point. The surface disordering may result from strongly contracted c/a ratio of Be.