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neb_simulation [2009/11/09 15:17]
jelen created
neb_simulation [2011/02/18 13:13] (current)
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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. ​ +===== Input ===== 
-More details about the method including list of references can be found [http://​theory.cm.utexas.edu/​henkelman/​research/​saddle/ ​ here].+ 
 +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. 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).  +  * 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).  
-<br \> + 
-<br \> +  ​* ​Next step, we need to activate ''​ineb''​ flag in the section OPTION of the ''​fireball.in''​ input file: 
-Next step, we need to activate ''​ineb''​ flag in the section OPTION of the '''​fireball.in'''​ input file: <br \> + 
-<br \> +<code>
-<pre>+
 &OPTION &OPTION
 ineb = 1  ineb = 1 
 &END &END
-</pre> +</code>
-<br \> +
-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). ​ <br \> +
-The format of '''​neb.optional'''​ file is following:​ +
-<br \>+
  
-<pre>+  * 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) 1.0                 ! spring strength (k_neb)
 0.03                ! tolerance of displacement (tol_displ_neb) 0.03                ! tolerance of displacement (tol_displ_neb)
Line 29: Line 29:
 0                   ! restart (irestart) 0                   ! restart (irestart)
 final.bas ​          ! file name including the final configuration (file_neb)) final.bas ​          ! file name including the final configuration (file_neb))
-</pre>+</code>
  
-== Output & Convergence== +===== 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:  + 
-<pre>+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 grep "​NEB"​ $output_name
-</pre>+</code>
  
 you'll get a summary in the following format: you'll get a summary in the following format:
-<pre>+ 
 +<code>
 ... ...
    ​NEB_RES no. iter =  52    ​NEB_RES no. iter =  52
Line 54: Line 57:
    ​NEB_RES no. iter =  55    ​NEB_RES no. iter =  55
 ... ...
-</pre>+</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. 
 + 
 +  
 +**Note**: The files ''​answer_image.bas''​ can be directly used for a restart of NEB-optimization process. 
 + 
 + 
 +==== Main sources of convergence troubles: ====
  
-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+  * **large time step: ** 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.  
-Files '''​answer_image.bas'''​ and '''​answer_image.xyz'''​ contain all, last optimized, ​NEB images ​including the initial and final ones.<​br/>​  +  * **wrong initial guess of NEB images: ​**  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. 
-NoteThe files '''​answer_image.bas'''​ can be directly ​used for a restart ​of NEB-optimization ​process.<br/> +  * **weak spring constant:** 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.
-<br/>+
  
--- +===== Restart =====
-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'':​
-There is possibility to make a restart of previous run on penultimate line in the file '''​neb.optional''':​+
  
-<pre>+<code>
 1.0                 ! spring strength (k_neb) 1.0                 ! spring strength (k_neb)
 0.03                ! tolerance of displacement (tol_displ_neb) 0.03                ! tolerance of displacement (tol_displ_neb)
Line 80: Line 86:
 1                   ! restart (irestart) 1                   ! restart (irestart)
 final.bas ​          ! file name including the final configuration (file_neb)) final.bas ​          ! file name including the final configuration (file_neb))
-</pre>+</code>
  
-In this case, an initial NEB images will be uploaded from a file declared on the next line of '''​neb.optional'''​ file. +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.+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.1257776245.txt.gz · Last modified: 2011/02/18 13:14 (external edit)