Interatomic potential for copper

An interatomic potential for copper is constructed, using the best available intermediate- and low-energy experimental information. It reproduces satisfactorily the threshold energies for atomic displacements as well as the phonon spectrum of the metal. This potential is also extrapolated to include higher-energy data. An analytical expression is proposed, of which every constituent is physically well understood. It is emphasized that such a potential may be quite useful for lattice-defect studies in which short-range as well as long-range effects are involved.