  A detailed description of the statistical distribution of thermal vacancies
near the melting point is presented, using copper as an example. As the
temperature is increased, the average number of thermal vacancies generated by
atoms migrating to neighboring sites also increase, according to Arrhenius'
law. We present for the first time a model for the distribution of thermal
vacancies, which according to our results follow a Gamma distribution. All the
simulations are carried out by classical molecular dynamics and the recognition
of vacancies is achieved via a recently developed algorithm. Our results could
be useful in the further development of a theory explaining the mechanism of
homogeneous melting, which seems to be mediated (at least in part) by the
accumulation of thermal vacancies near the melting point.
