+The potential energy of $N$ interacting atoms can be written in the form
+\begin{equation}
+U(\{{\bf r}\}) = \sum_i U_1({\bf r}_i) + \sum_i \sum_{j>i} U_2({\bf r}_i,{\bf r}_j) + \sum_i \sum_{j>i} \sum_{k>j>i} U_3({\bf r}_i,{\bf r}_j,{\bf r}_k) \ldots
+\end{equation}
+where $U$ is the total potential energy.
+$U_1$ is a single particle potential describing external forces.
+This could for instance be the gravitational force or an electric field.
+$U_2$ is a two body pair potential which only depends on the distance $r_{ij}$ between the two atoms $i$ and $j$.
+
+$U_3$ is a three body potential which may have an additional angular dependence describing covalent bonds, plus higher order terms which are expected to be small and thus neglected.
+