Interaction of small vacancy clusters with (1 1 4) twin-boundary in gold

The molecular dynamics simulation technique with many-body and semi-empirical potentials is used to calculate the (1 1 4) twin-boundary in gold at different temperatures. Relaxations are found on both sides of the interface with the same magnitude and the phenomenon of coalescence is observed near the interface. The interactions of single-, di- and tri-vacancies with twin-interface at 300 K on mirror and off-mirror sites are calculated. Off-mirror arrangements are favorable for all vacancy clusters, except for the single-vacancy cluster, which is less repulsive on the mirror site. Vacancy clusters energetically prefer to lie at planes closest to the (1 1 4) interface rather than away from it. The effect of temperature on interaction behavior is also calculated.