Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the static, dynamic and electronic properties of liquid lead using real-space pseudopotentials

Abstract

We performed a comprehensive study of the static, dynamic and electronic properties of liquid Pb at T = 650 kelvins, density 0.0309 angstroms^{-3} by means of 216-particle ab initio molecular dynamics simulations based on a real-space implementation of pseudopotentials constructed within density-functional theory. The predicted results and available experimental data are very in good agreement, which confirms the adequacy of this technique to achieve a reliable description of the behavior of liquid metals, including their dynamic properties. Although some of the computed properties of liquid Pb are similar to those of simple liquid metals, others differ markedly. Our results show that an appropriate description of liquid Pb requires the inclusion of relativistic effects in the determination of the pseudopotentials of Pb.