Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the static, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid Pb using real-space pseudopotentials

We performed a comprehensive study of the static, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid Pb at T=650 K, rho=0.0309 angstrom(-3) by means of 216-particle ab initio molecular dynamics simulations based on a real-space implementation of pseudopotentials constructed within density-functional theory. The predicted results and available experimental data are in very good agreement, which confirms the adequacy of this technique to achieve a reliable description of the behavior of liquid metals, including their dynamic properties. Although some of the computed properties of liquid Pb are similar to those of simple liquid metals, others differ markedly. Our results show that an appropriate description of liquid Pb requires the inclusion of relativistic effects in the determination of the pseudopotentials of Pb.