Combination rules for intermolecular potential parameters. I. Rules based on approximations for the long‐range dispersion energy

Comparison of the United- and All-Atom Representations of (Halo)alkanes Based on Two Condensed-Phase Force Fields Optimized against the Same Experimental Data Set

The level of accuracy that can be achieved by a force field is influenced by choices made in the interaction-function representation and in the relevant simulation parameters. These choices, referred to here as functional-form variants (FFVs), include for example the model resolution, the charge-derivation procedure, the van der Waals combination rules, the cutoff distance, and the treatment of the long-range interactions. Ideally, assessing the effect of a given FFV on the intrinsic accuracy of the force-field representation requires that only the specific FFV is changed and that this change is performed at an optimal level of parametrization, a requirement that may prove extremely challenging to achieve in practice. Here, we present a first attempt at such a comparison for one specific FFV, namely the choice of a united-atom (UA) versus an all-atom (AA) resolution in a force field for saturated acyclic (halo)alkanes. Two force-field versions (UA vs AA) are optimized in an automated way using the CombiFF approach against 961 experimental values for the pure-liquid densities ρ_liq and vaporization enthalpies ΔH_vap of 591 compounds. For the AA force field, the torsional and third-neighbor Lennard-Jones parameters are also refined based on quantum-mechanical rotational-energy profiles. The comparison between the UA and AA resolutions is also extended to properties that have not been included as parameterization targets, namely the surface-tension coefficient γ, the isothermal compressibility κ_T, the isobaric thermal-expansion coefficient α_P, the isobaric heat capacity c_P, the static relative dielectric permittivity ϵ, the self-diffusion coefficient D, the shear viscosity η, the hydration free energy ΔG_wat, and the free energy of solvation ΔG_che in cyclohexane. For the target properties ρ_liq and ΔH_vap, the UA and AA resolutions reach very similar levels of accuracy after optimization. For the nine other properties, the AA representation leads to more accurate results in terms of η; comparably accurate results in terms of γ, κ_T, α_P, ϵ, D, and ΔG_che; and less accurate results in terms of c_P and ΔG_wat. This work also represents a first step toward the calibration of a GROMOS-compatible force field at the AA resolution.

Metal Ion Modeling Using Classical Mechanics

Metal ions play significant roles in numerous fields including chemistry, geochemistry, biochemistry, and materials science. With computational tools increasingly becoming important in chemical research, methods have emerged to effectively face the challenge of modeling metal ions in the gas, aqueous, and solid phases. Herein, we review both quantum and classical modeling strategies for metal ion-containing systems that have been developed over the past few decades. This Review focuses on classical metal ion modeling based on unpolarized models (including the nonbonded, bonded, cationic dummy atom, and combined models), polarizable models (e.g., the fluctuating charge, Drude oscillator, and the induced dipole models), the angular overlap model, and valence bond-based models. Quantum mechanical studies of metal ion-containing systems at the semiempirical, ab initio, and density functional levels of theory are reviewed as well with a particular focus on how these methods inform classical modeling efforts. Finally, conclusions and future prospects and directions are offered that will further enhance the classical modeling of metal ion-containing systems.

The effects of replacing the water model while decoupling water-water and water-solute interactions on computed properties of simple salts

The effects of decoupling the water-water and water-solute interactions are studied with selected mono-valent ions as the solute. Using the ion-water cross terms developed for the BLYPSP-4F water model, we replaced the water potential with WAIL, TIP4P, and TIP3P without changing the ion-water parameters. When the adaptive force matching (AFM) derived BLYPSP-4F model is replaced by the other AFM derived WAIL model, the difference in ion properties, such as hydration free energies, radial distribution functions, relative diffusion constants, is negligible, demonstrating the feasibility for combining AFM parameters from different sources. Interestingly, when the AFM-derived ion-water cross-terms are used with a non-AFM based water model, only small changes in the ion properties are observed. The final combined models with TIP3P or TIP4P water reproduce the salt hydration free energies within 6% of experiments. The feasibility of combining AFM models with other non-AFM models is of significance since such combinations allow more complex systems to be studied without specific parameterization. In addition, the study suggests an interesting prospect of reusing the cross-terms when a part of a general force field is replaced with a different model. The prevailing practice, which is to re-derive all cross-terms with combining rules, may not have been optimal.

Bayesian uncertainty quantification and propagation in molecular dynamics simulations: a high performance computing framework

We present a Bayesian probabilistic framework for quantifying and propagating the uncertainties in the parameters of force fields employed in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We propose a highly parallel implementation of the transitional Markov chain Monte Carlo for populating the posterior probability distribution of the MD force-field parameters. Efficient scheduling algorithms are proposed to handle the MD model runs and to distribute the computations in clusters with heterogeneous architectures. Furthermore, adaptive surrogate models are proposed in order to reduce the computational cost associated with the large number of MD model runs. The effectiveness and computational efficiency of the proposed Bayesian framework is demonstrated in MD simulations of liquid and gaseous argon.

An advanced Gibbs-Duhem integration method: Theory and applications

The conventional Gibbs-Duhem integration method is very convenient for the prediction of phase equilibria of both pure components and mixtures. However, it turns out to be inefficient. The method requires a number of lengthy simulations to predict the state conditions at which phase coexistence occurs. This number is not known from the outset of the numerical integration process. Furthermore, the molecular configurations generated during the simulations are merely used to predict the coexistence condition and not the liquid- and vapor-phase densities and mole fractions at coexistence. In this publication, an advanced Gibbs-Duhem integration method is presented that overcomes above-mentioned disadvantage and inefficiency. The advanced method is a combination of Gibbs-Duhem integration and multiple-histogram reweighting. Application of multiple-histogram reweighting enables the substitution of the unknown number of simulations by a fixed and predetermined number. The advanced method has a retroactive nature; a current simulation improves the predictions of previously computed coexistence points as well. The advanced Gibbs-Duhem integration method has been applied for the prediction of vapor-liquid equilibria of a number of binary mixtures. The method turned out to be very convenient, much faster than the conventional method, and provided smooth simulation results. As the employed force fields perfectly predict pure-component vapor-liquid equilibria, the binary simulations were very well suitable for testing the performance of different sets of combining rules. Employing Lorentz-Hudson-McCoubrey combining rules for interactions between unlike molecules, as opposed to Lorentz-Berthelot combining rules for all interactions, considerably improved the agreement between experimental and simulated data.

An intercomparison of measured pressure-broadening and pressure-shifting parameters of water vapor

The present work is an intercomparison of experimental results on the pressure broadening and pressure shifting of water vapor absorption lines. The work focuses on application to the Earth's atmosphere; hence measurements of nitrogen, oxygen, air, and H2O as the buffer, or perturbing gas, were considered. The literature was searched and over 100 papers found. The data, measured half-widths, their temperature dependence, and the line shifts, were taken and databases created for each perturbing gas. The databases were reordered, grouping data for rovibrational transitions, and intercomparisons of the measurements made. Trends in the data, relationships between the data sets, and dependences on temperature and quantum numbers were investigated. The data were averaged and an estimated uncertainty determined. The averaged data sets are evaluated with respect to the need of the spectroscopic and remote sensing communities. Based on these studies, recommendations for new measurements are made.Key words: water vapor, half-widths, line shifts, temperature dependence of half-width.

A generating equation for mixing rules and two new mixing rules for interatomic potential energy parameters

A generating equation for the mixing rules of interatomic potential energy parameters is proposed. It is demonstrated that this equation can, indeed, reproduce many popular mixing rules. A weighting matrix is used with the generating equation. This weighting matrix approach is superior to the present status of mixing rule development. A systematic framework is given for devising new mixing rules and/or comparing them. Two new mixing rules, which are more accurate than the available rules in the literature, are proposed. These rules are capable of reproducing the collision diameter and well-depth parameters for the binary values of noble gases to within their experimental uncertainties.