Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
A first-principles local-density based algorithm which employs optimized Gaussian-type orbitals is used to carry out calculations on a large variety of lithium clusters consisting of one to twenty-seven atoms. Bulk moduli, bond lengths and cohesive energies for the isolated clusters are presented and the results are extrapolated so as to predict the bulk (BCC) cohesive energy as well. Vacancy formation energies and vacancy induced lattice relaxation are also presented for three BCC fragments and compared to the bulk experimental results. For our largest cluster, we obtain a vacancy formation energy of 0.36 eV which is in good agreement with the experimental result of 0.34 eV.