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neb_simulation [2009/12/04 10:53]
prokop
neb_simulation [2011/02/18 13:13]
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-== Input == 
-Here we provide brief description how to run Nudged Elastic Band ([http://​theory.cm.utexas.edu/​henkelman/​research/​saddle/​ NEB]) simulations to explore reaction pathways between two known atomic configurations. ​ 
-More details about the method including list of references can be found [http://​theory.cm.utexas.edu/​henkelman/​research/​saddle/ ​ here]. 
-To start, we need an initial and final atomic configuration. 
- 
-The initial configuration is defined in input  ''​*.bas''​ file defined in '''​ fireball.in'''​ input file. Final configuration 
-is defined in other ''​*.bas''​ file, which name is defined in ''​neb.optional''​ file (see bellow). ​ 
- 
-Next step, we need to activate ''​ineb''​ flag in the section OPTION of the '''​fireball.in'''​ input file: <br \> 
- 
-<​code>​ 
-&OPTION 
-ineb = 1  
-&END 
-</​code>​ 
- 
-In addition, we create an extra input file ''​neb.optional''​ including parameters to control NEB searching process. This file has to be presented in the working directory (This file will probably converted into section format of ''​fireball.in''​ soon, for details please checkout your current version). 
- 
-The format of '''​neb.optional'''​ file is following: 
- 
-<​code>​ 
-1.0                 ! spring strength (k_neb) 
-0.03                ! tolerance of displacement (tol_displ_neb) 
-0.05                ! tolerance of force (tol_ftot_neb) 
-0.003               ! tolerance of energy (tol_etot_neb) 
-16                  ! neb images (including the initial and final image) ​ (nimg_neb) 
-1000                ! max. number of neb iterations (niter_neb_max) 
-2.0                 ! time step for NEB optimization verlet method (dt_neb) 
-0                   ! restart (irestart) 
-final.bas ​          ! file name including the final configuration (file_neb)) 
-</​code>​ 
- 
-== Output & Convergence== 
-Information about the convergence status/​progress can be checked out searching lines with a string ''​NEB''​ in output file; e.g. typing from command line:  
-<​code>​ 
-grep "​NEB"​ $output_name 
-</​code>​ 
- 
-you'll get a summary in the following format: 
-<​code>​ 
-... 
-   ​NEB_RES no. iter =  52 
-   ​NEB_RES displ :  RES =      0.00977406 ​ TOL =       ​0.03000000 
-   ​NEB_RES etot  :  RES =      0.05848069 ​ TOL =       ​0.00300000 
-   ​NEB_RES ftot  :  RES =      0.64556157 ​ TOL =       ​0.05000000 
-   ​NEB_RES no. iter =  53 
-   ​NEB_RES displ :  RES =      0.00968433 ​ TOL =       ​0.03000000 
-   ​NEB_RES etot  :  RES =      0.05707478 ​ TOL =       ​0.00300000 
-   ​NEB_RES ftot  :  RES =      0.62786898 ​ TOL =       ​0.05000000 
-   ​NEB_RES no. iter =  54 
-   ​NEB_RES displ :  RES =      0.00960022 ​ TOL =       ​0.03000000 
-   ​NEB_RES etot  :  RES =      0.05630221 ​ TOL =       ​0.00300000 
-   ​NEB_RES ftot  :  RES =      0.62082779 ​ TOL =       ​0.05000000 
-   ​NEB_RES no. iter =  55 
-... 
-</​code>​ 
- 
-In addition actual optimized position of each NEB image is stored in '''​answer_neb_''​XX''​.bas''' ​ file;  where ''​XX''​ means image no.. File '''​answer_neb_''​XX''​.xyz'''​ contains whole optimization history of an individual image. 
-Files '''​answer_image.bas'''​ and '''​answer_image.xyz'''​ contain all, last optimized, NEB images including the initial and final ones.<​br/> ​ 
-Note: The files '''​answer_image.bas'''​ can be directly used for a restart of NEB-optimization process. 
- 
--- 
-Main sources of convergence troubles: 
-# '''​large time step'''<​br/>​initial forces can be pretty large, therefore a small time step is advisable to avoid any numerical instabilities of [http://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​Verlet_integration Verlet] alghorithm used to integrate the equations of motion. ​ 
-# '''​wrong initial guess of NEB images'''​ <​br/>​Linear extrapolation is used to build up set of NEB images at begin. In special cases, where the reaction trajectories are complicated,​ can lead to unrealistic configurations with atoms close to each other. Such configurations will suffer large repulsive forces which consequently may lead to numerical instabilities during optimization. 
-# '''​weak spring constant'''<​br/>​If the potential energy surface is complicated,​ the imaginary elastic band can get kinked. On other hand, large spring constant will lead to less precise estimation of the saddle point. 
- 
-== Restart == 
-There is possibility to make a restart of previous run on penultimate line in the file '''​neb.optional''':​ 
- 
-<​code>​ 
-1.0                 ! spring strength (k_neb) 
-0.03                ! tolerance of displacement (tol_displ_neb) 
-0.05                ! tolerance of force (tol_ftot_neb) 
-0.003               ! tolerance of energy (tol_etot_neb) 
-16                  ! neb images (including the initial and final image) ​ (nimg_neb) 
-1000                ! max. number of neb iterations (niter_neb_max) 
-0.5                 ! time step for NEB optimization verlet method (dt_neb) 
-1                   ! restart (irestart) 
-final.bas ​          ! file name including the final configuration (file_neb)) 
-</​code>​ 
- 
-In this case, an initial NEB images will be uploaded from a file declared on the next line of '''​neb.optional'''​ file. 
-Format of this file has to be indentical to the '''​answer_image.bas'''​ file, where the first line containing total number of NEB images. 
  
neb_simulation.txt ยท Last modified: 2011/02/18 13:13 (external edit)