Predicting the structure and energy of a grain boundary in germanium

Abstract
An ab initio molecular dynamics simulated quenching approach is used to study the properties of a (001) twist grain boundary in the Sigma =5 system in germanium. Interfacial total energies are mapped out over the entire range of possible relative in-plane translation states of the boundary. The analysis leads to predictions of the equilibrium translation state, the geometric structure, effective local volume and formation energy associated with this internal interface.