Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 April 2011
Results are presented of the simulation of the properties of vacancy clusters in single crystal germanium. Classical molecular dynamics calculations based on a Stillinger and Weber potential were used in a theoretical investigation of different growth patterns of vacancy clusters Vi . The formation and binding energies of vacancy clusters have been studied in the range 1 ≤ i ≤ 35. The energetically favourable growth mode and an estimate of the effective surface energy was determined for a vacancy clusters containing up to 35 vacancies