DFTB+, a software package for efficient approximate density functional theory based atomistic simulations (original) (raw)
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Multiscale Simulation Methods for Nanomaterials, 2007
Fullerene like cages and naonotubes of carbon and other inorganic materials are currently under intense study due to their possible technological applications. First principle simulations of these materials are computationally challenging due to large number of atoms. We have recently developed a fast, variational and fully analytic density functional theory (ADFT) based model that allows study of systems larger than those that can be studied using existing density functional models. Using polarized Gaussian basis sets (6-311G**) and ADFT, we optimize geometries of large fullerenes, fullerene-like cages and nanotubes of carbon, boron nitride, and aluminum nitride containing more than two thousand atoms. The calculation of C2160 using nearly 39000 orbital basis functions is the largest calculation on any isolated molecule reported to-date at this level of theory, and it includes full geometry optimization. The electronic structure related properties of the inorganic cages and other carbon fullerenes have been studied. Computer simulations are playing increasingly important role in our understanding about materials. Generally, the choice of computational models that are employed in studying the properties of materials depend on the property of interest and the length scale or the size of the system[1]. The latter is the most important factor in the selection of appropriate level of theory. Our interest is in the electronic and structural properties of large carbon fullerenes and fullerene like cages of aluminum and boron nitride containing a few hundred atoms. At these sizes, the current toolbox of methods that are available include semiempirical quantum mechanical models such as ZINDO[2], PM3[3] methods or tight binding approaches[4]. More accurate description of electronic properties require use of more involved meth- * Electronic address: rzope@alchemy.nrl.navy.mil † Electronic address: dunlap@nrl.navy.mil
The Elephant in the Room of Density Functional Theory Calculations
Using multiwavelets, we have obtained total energies and corresponding atomization energies for the GGA-PBE and hybrid-PBE0 density functionals for a test set of 211 molecules with an unprecedented and guaranteed μHartree accuracy. These quasi-exact references allow us to quantify the accuracy of standard all-electron basis sets that are believed to be highly accurate for molecules, such as Gaussian-type orbitals (GTOs), all-electron numeric atom-centered orbitals (NAOs), and full-potential augmented plane wave (APW) methods. We show that NAOs are able to achieve the so-called chemical accuracy (1 kcal/mol) for the typical basis set sizes used in applications, for both total and atomization energies. For GTOs, a triple-ζ quality basis has mean errors of ∼10 kcal/mol in total energies, while chemical accuracy is almost reached for a quintuple-ζ basis. Due to systematic error cancellations, atomization energy errors are reduced by almost an order of magnitude, placing chemical accuracy within reach also for medium to large GTO bases, albeit with significant outliers. In order to check the accuracy of the computed densities, we have also investigated the dipole moments, where in general only the largest NAO and GTO bases are able to yield errors below 0.01 D. The observed errors are similar across the different functionals considered here.
Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal, 2018
QMCPACK is an open source quantum Monte Carlo package for ab initio electronic structure calculations. It supports calculations of metallic and insulating solids, molecules, atoms, and some model Hamiltonians. Implemented real space quantum Monte Carlo algorithms include variational, diffusion, and reptation Monte Carlo. QMCPACK uses Slater-Jastrow type trial wave functions in conjunction with a sophisticated optimizer capable of optimizing tens of thousands of parameters. The orbital space auxiliary field quantum Monte Carlo method is also implemented, enabling cross validation between different highly accurate methods. The code is specifically optimized for calculations with large numbers of electrons on the latest high performance computing architectures, including multicore central processing unit (CPU) and graphical processing unit (GPU) systems. We detail the program's capabilities, outline its structure, and give examples of its use in current research calculations. The p...
Atomistic simulations of complex materials: ground-state and excited-state properties
Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 2002
The present status of development of the density-functional-based tightbinding (DFTB) method is reviewed. As a two-centre approach to densityfunctional theory (DFT), it combines computational efficiency with reliability and transferability. Utilizing a minimal-basis representation of Kohn-Sham eigenstates and a superposition of optimized neutral-atom potentials and related charge densities for constructing the effective many-atom potential, all integrals are calculated within DFT. Self-consistency is included at the level of Mulliken charges rather than by self-consistently iterating electronic spin densities and effective potentials. Excited-state properties are accessible within the linear response approach to time-dependent (TD) DFT. The coupling of electronic and ionic degrees of freedom further allows us to follow the non-adiabatic structure evolution via coupled electron-ion molecular dynamics in energetic particle collisions and in the presence of ultrashort intense laser pulses. We either briefly outline or give references describing examples of applications to ground-state and excited-state properties. Addressing the scaling problems in size and time generally and for biomolecular systems in particular, we describe the implementation of the parallel 'divide-and-conquer' order-N method with DFTB and the coupling of the DFTB approach as a quantum method with molecular mechanics force fields.
A new density functional method for electronic structure calculation of atoms and molecules
arXiv: Chemical Physics, 2019
This chapter concerns with the recent development of a new DFT methodology for accurate, reliable prediction of many-electron systems. Background, need for such a scheme, major difficulties encountered, as well as their potential remedies are discussed at some length. Within the realm of non relativistic Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham (HKS) DFT and making use of the familiar LCAO-MO principle, relevant KS eigenvalue problem is solved numerically. Unlike the commonly used atom-centered grid (ACG), here we employ a 3D cartesian coordinate grid (CCG) to build atom-centered localized basis set, electron density, as well as all the two-body potentials directly on grid. The Hartree potential is computed through a Fourier convolution technique via a decomposition in terms of short- and long-range interactions. Feasibility and viability of our proposed scheme is demonstrated for a series of chemical systems; first with homogeneous, local-density-approximated XC functionals followed by non-local, gradi...