Cluster-expansion approach

The cluster-expansion approach is a way of understanding how atoms interact with each other in a material. Basically, it takes the material and breaks it into smaller pieces, or "clusters". Each cluster is made up of a few atoms interacting with each other. A computer then works out a mathematical formula that explains how each cluster interacts with the other clusters. By looking at how the clusters interact, scientists can understand how the material behaves as a whole. This helps them design new materials with desired properties.