To cite lme4 in publications use:

Bates D, Mächler M, Bolker B, Walker S (2015). “Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4.” Journal of Statistical Software, 67(1), 1–48. doi:10.18637/jss.v067.i01.

Corresponding BibTeX entry:

  @Article{,
    title = {Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using {lme4}},
    author = {Douglas Bates and Martin M{\"a}chler and Ben Bolker and
      Steve Walker},
    journal = {Journal of Statistical Software},
    year = {2015},
    volume = {67},
    number = {1},
    pages = {1--48},
    doi = {10.18637/jss.v067.i01},
  }