Concurrent coupling of length scales: Methodology and application

A strategic objective of computational materials physics is the accurate description of specific materials on length scales approaching the meso and macroscopic. We report on progress towards this goal by describing a seamless coupling of continuum to statistical to quantum mechanics, involving an algorithm, implemented on a parallel computer, for handshaking between finite elements, molecular dynamics, and semiempirical tight binding. We illustrate and validate the methodology using the example of crack propagation in silicon.