Interatomic potentials for simulating radiation damage effects in metals

We critically review the recent developments in the field of semi-empirical interatomic potentials for molecular dynamics simulations, with particular emphasis on the requirements and criteria associated with the simulations of radiation damage effects in metals. We address a range of issues including the suitability of potentials for large-scale simulations, the role of electronic excitations and electron energy losses, and the part played by the dynamics of internal degrees of freedom of atoms, for example magnetic excitations.