Ab initiomolecular dynamics on the Ge(100) surface

Abstract
An ab initio total-energy approach to molecular dynamics and simulated quenching is applied for the first time and used to study the structure of the Ge(100) surface. The geometry of the lowest-energy c(4×2)-symmetry dimer model is predicted. A soft energy surface for displacement of dimers in the [10] direction is discovered which could lead to a new type of symmetry breaking.