Bridging material models across scales: An integrated approach to equation of state and molecular dynamics modeling of copper

S S. Nikolov (Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,) K K. R. Cochrane (Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,) N N. Modine (Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,) J J. H. Carpenter (Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,)

Abstract

New uncertainty-aware equation of state (EOS) and electrical conductivity (EC) models for copper have been developed. The multiphase EOS/EC models are fit to experimental solid/liquid EC isobar measurements as well as density-functional theory molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) EC calculations in both expanded and compressed regimes (0.1–16 g/cm3). The liquid and solid EOS phases were fit to available experimental data along with additional DFT-MD data over the same range as the EC. Leveraging the DFT-MD data, a corresponding machine-learned interatomic potential (MLIAP) for copper was trained using genetic-algorithm optimization. The copper MLIAP was constrained by EOS shock points at high compressions. The final EOS bounded MLIAP proves to be stable over a large density range (approximately 0.1–20 g/cm3) with good agreement to an isothermal compression curve, shock Hugoniot, and liquid speed of sound measurements at high pressures (100s of GPa).

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 138, Issue 23
Published December 21, 2025
ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Journal of Applied Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979 Physical Sciences

Authors (4)

S

S. Nikolov

Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,

K

K. R. Cochrane

Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,

N

N. Modine

Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,

J

J. H. Carpenter

Sandia National Laboratories , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123,