Boundary conditions: Difference between revisions
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Molecular simulation often tries to approximate the [[thermodynamic limit]] in which the systems are very large. Since this is impossible to achieve computationally, a simulation cell must be employed. This cell being finite, it would appear that it must be bounded in some way. However, finiteness does not imply boundaries, as the circle demonstrates | Molecular simulation often tries to approximate the [[thermodynamic limit]], in which the systems are very large. Since this is impossible to achieve computationally, a simulation cell must be employed. This cell being finite, it would appear that it must be bounded in some way. However, finiteness does not imply boundaries, as the circle demonstrates. | ||
Thus, periodic boundary conditions are typically employed for the simulations of bulk materials (either disordered, or crystalline, in which case the cell must be carefully chosen.) In [[confined systems]] periodicity is only required in some spacial dimensions. Sometimes [[non-periodic boundary conditions]] are nevertheless employed. | |||
==List of periodic boundary conditions== | |||
*[[Cubic periodic boundary conditions | Cubic]] | |||
*[[Orthorhombic periodic boundary conditions | Orthorhombic]] | |||
*[[Parallelepiped periodic boundary conditions | Parallelepiped]] | |||
*[[Truncated octahedral periodic boundary conditions | Truncated octahedral]] | |||
*[[Rhombic dodecahedral periodic boundary conditions | Rhombic dodecahedral]] | |||
*[[Slab periodic boundary conditions | Slab]] | |||
*[[Hexagonal prism periodic boundary conditions | Hexagonal prism]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
# [http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780198556459 M. P. Allen and D. J. Tildesley "Computer Simulation of Liquids", Oxford University Press (1989)] (+computer codes on the [http://www.ccp5.ac.uk/librar.shtml CCP5 website]) | # [http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780198556459 M. P. Allen and D. J. Tildesley "Computer Simulation of Liquids", Oxford University Press (1989)] Section 1.5.2 (+computer codes on the [http://www.ccp5.ac.uk/librar.shtml CCP5 website]) | ||
# Daan Frenkel and Berend Smit "Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications", Second Edition (2002) ISBN 0-12-267351-4 | # Daan Frenkel and Berend Smit "Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications", Second Edition pp. 32-35 (2002) ISBN 0-12-267351-4 | ||
[[category: Computer simulation techniques]] | [[category: Computer simulation techniques]] | ||
Revision as of 14:51, 2 April 2008
Molecular simulation often tries to approximate the thermodynamic limit, in which the systems are very large. Since this is impossible to achieve computationally, a simulation cell must be employed. This cell being finite, it would appear that it must be bounded in some way. However, finiteness does not imply boundaries, as the circle demonstrates.
Thus, periodic boundary conditions are typically employed for the simulations of bulk materials (either disordered, or crystalline, in which case the cell must be carefully chosen.) In confined systems periodicity is only required in some spacial dimensions. Sometimes non-periodic boundary conditions are nevertheless employed.
List of periodic boundary conditions
References
- M. P. Allen and D. J. Tildesley "Computer Simulation of Liquids", Oxford University Press (1989) Section 1.5.2 (+computer codes on the CCP5 website)
- Daan Frenkel and Berend Smit "Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications", Second Edition pp. 32-35 (2002) ISBN 0-12-267351-4