Geometry optimization of crystals by the quasi-independent curvilinear coordinate approximation

Large-Scale Density Functional Theory Transition State Searching in Enzymes

Linear-scaling quantum mechanical density functional theory calculations have been applied to study the rearrangement of chorismate to prephenate in large-scale models of the Bacillus subtilis chorismate mutase enzyme. By treating up to 2000 atoms at a consistent quantum mechanical level of theory, we obtain an unbiased, almost parameter-free description of the transition state geometry and energetics. The activation energy barrier is calculated to be lowered by 10.5 kcal mol(-1) in the enzyme, compared with the equivalent reaction in water, which is in good agreement with experiment. Natural bond orbital analysis identifies a number of active site residues that are important for transition state stabilization in chorismate mutase. This benchmark study demonstrates that linear-scaling density functional theory techniques are capable of simulating entire enzymes at the ab initio quantum mechanical level of accuracy.

Energy gradients with respect to atomic positions and cell parameters for the Kohn-Sham density-functional theory at the Γ point

The application of theoretical methods based on density-functional theory is known to provide atomic and cell parameters in very good agreement with experimental values. Recently, construction of the exact Hartree-Fock exchange gradients with respect to atomic positions and cell parameters within the Gamma-point approximation has been introduced. In this article, the formalism is extended to the evaluation of analytical Gamma-point density-functional atomic and cell gradients. The infinite Coulomb summation is solved with an effective periodic summation of multipole tensors. While the evaluation of Coulomb and exchange-correlation gradients with respect to atomic positions are similar to those in the gas phase limit, the gradients with respect to cell parameters needs to be treated with some care. The derivative of the periodic multipole interaction tensor needs to be carefully handled in both direct and reciprocal space and the exchange-correlation energy derivative leads to a surface term that has its origin in derivatives of the integration limits that depend on the cell. As an illustration, the analytical gradients have been used in conjunction with the QUICCA algorithm to optimize one-dimensional and three-dimensional periodic systems at the density-functional theory and hybrid Hartree-Fock/density-functional theory levels. We also report the full relaxation of forsterite supercells at the B3LYP level of theory.

Exchange energy gradients with respect to atomic positions and cell parameters within the Hartree-Fock Γ-point approximation

Recently, linear scaling construction of the periodic exact Hartree-Fock exchange matrix within the Gamma-point approximation has been introduced [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 124105 (2005)]. In this article, a formalism for evaluation of analytical Hartree-Fock exchange energy gradients with respect to atomic positions and cell parameters at the Gamma-point approximation is presented. While the evaluation of exchange gradients with respect to atomic positions is similar to those in the gas phase limit, the gradients with respect to cell parameters involve the accumulation of atomic gradients multiplied by appropriate factors and a modified electron repulsion integral (ERI). This latter integral arises from use of the minimum image convention in the definition of the Gamma-point Hartree-Fock approximation. We demonstrate how this new ERI can be computed with the help of a modified vertical recurrence relation in the frame of the Obara-Saika and Head-Gordon-Pople algorithm. As an illustration, the analytical gradients have been used in conjunction with the QUICCA algorithm [K. Nemeth and M. Challacombe, J. Chem. Phys. 121, 2877 (2004)] to optimize periodic systems at the Hartree-Fock level of theory.