Slow-growth approach

The free-energy profile along a geometric parameter $\xi$ can be scanned by an approximate slow-growth approach. In this method, the value of $\xi$ is linearly changed from the value characteristic for the initial state (1) to that for the final state (2) with a velocity of transformation $\dot{\xi}$. The resulting work needed to perform a transformation $1 \rightarrow 2$ can be computed as:

$w^{irrev}_{1 \rightarrow 2}=\int_{{\xi(1)}}^{{\xi(2)}} \left ( \frac{\partial {V(q)}} {\partial \xi} \right ) \cdot \dot{\xi}\, dt.$

In the limit of infinitesimally small $\dot{\xi}$, the work $w^{irrev}_{1 \rightarrow 2}$ corresponds to the free-energy difference between the the final and initial state. In the general case, $w^{irrev}_{1 \rightarrow 2}$ is the irreversible work related to the free energy via Jarzynski's identity:

$exp^{-\frac{\Delta A_{1 \rightarrow 2}}{k_B\,T}}= \bigg \langle exp^{-\frac{w^{irrev}_{1 \rightarrow 2}}{k_B\,T}} \bigg\rangle.$

Note that calculation of the free-energy via this equation requires averaging of the term ${\rm exp} \left \{-\frac{w^{irrev}_{1 \rightarrow 2}}{k_B\,T} \right \}$ over many realizations of the $1 \rightarrow 2$ transformation. Detailed description of the simulation protocol that employs Jarzynski's identity can be found in reference .

Anderson thermostat

• For a slow-growth simulation, one has to perform a calcualtion very similar to Constrained molecular dynamics but additionally the transformation velocity-related INCREM-tag for each geometric parameter with STATUS=0 has to be specified. For a slow-growth approach run with Andersen thermostat, one has to:

1. Set the standard MD-related tags: IBRION=0, TEBEG, POTIM, and NSW
2. Set MDALGO=1, and choose an appropriate setting for ANDERSEN_PROB
3. Define geometric constraints in the ICONST-file, and set the STATUS parameter for the constrained coordinates to 0
4. When the free-energy gradient is to be computed, set LBLUEOUT=.TRUE.

5. Specify the transformation velocity-related INCREM-tag for each geometric parameter with STATUS=0.

Nose-Hoover thermostat

• For a slow-growth approach run with Nose-Hoover thermostat, one has to:

1. Set the standard MD-related tags: IBRION=0, TEBEG, POTIM, and NSW
2. Set MDALGO=2, and choose an appropriate setting for SMASS
3. Define geometric constraints in the ICONST-file, and set the STATUS parameter for the constrained coordinates to 0
4. When the free-energy gradient is to be computed, set LBLUEOUT=.TRUE.

5. Specify the transformation velocity-related INCREM-tag for each geometric parameter with STATUS=0

VASP can handle multiple (even redundant) constraints. Note, however, that a too large number of constraints can cause problems with the stability of the SHAKE algorithm. In problematic cases, it is recommended to use a looser convergence criterion (see SHAKETOL) and to allow a larger number of iterations (see SHAKEMAXITER) in the SHAKE algorithm. Hard constraints may also be used in metadynamics simulations (see MDALGO=11 | 21). Information about the constraints is written onto the REPORT-file: check the lines following the string: Const_coord

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