THE EMBEDDED-ATOM METHOD - A REVIEW OF THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

The embedded-atom method (EAM) is a semi-empirical, many-atom potential for computing the total energy of a metallic system. It is especially useful for systems with large unit cells, and is appropriate for metals with empty or filled d bands. With the EAM, the materials community has investigated many problems of interest: point defects, melting, alloying, grain boundary structure and energy, dislocations, segregation, fracture, surface structure, and epitaxial growth. In general, most of the EAM calculations have been carried out in close connection with experimental work. We review here the history, development, and application of the EAM.