Molecular dynamics#

Note

These examples can be run without asap3 installed. In that case, ASE’s Python implementation of the EMT calculator can be used instead, but it is much slower.

Goal#

In this tutorial, we will learn how to perform basic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using ASE.

The key objectives are:

  • Understand how to set up a crystal structure (Cu atoms on an FCC lattice).

  • Initialize velocities from Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution corresponding to a chosen temperature.

  • Integrate Newton’s equations of motion using Velocity-Verlet algorithm and we monitor the temperature using Langevin thermostat.

  • Monitor and analyze thermodynamic quantities (potential energy, kinetic energy, total energy, temperature).

  • Save trajectories and visualize atomic motion with ASE’s GUI.

  • Explore MD in different scenarios: - Constant energy MD (NVE ensemble) - Constant temperature MD (NVT ensemble) - Isolated nanoparticle simulations

By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to set up your own MD simulations, monitor energy conservation, and visualize system evolution.

Part 1: Basic Molecular Dynamics Simulation#

We start by creating a copper crystal, assigning random velocities corresponding to Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution at 300 K, and running dynamics in the NVE ensemble (constant energy).

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

# choose one of the following implementations of EMT:
# included in ase
# from ase.calculators.emt import EMT
# faster performance
from asap3 import EMT

from ase import units
from ase.cluster.cubic import FaceCenteredCubic as ClusterFCC
from ase.io.trajectory import Trajectory
from ase.lattice.cubic import FaceCenteredCubic as LatticeFCC
from ase.md.langevin import Langevin  # for later NPT simulations
from ase.md.velocitydistribution import (
    MaxwellBoltzmannDistribution,
    Stationary,
    ZeroRotation,
)
from ase.md.verlet import VelocityVerlet
from ase.optimize import QuasiNewton
from ase.visualize.plot import plot_atoms

# Set up initial positions of Cu atoms on Fcc crystal lattice
size = 10
atoms = LatticeFCC(
    directions=[[1, 0, 0], [0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 1]],
    symbol='Cu',
    size=(size, size, size),
    pbc=True,
)

Before setting up the MD simulation, we take a look at the initial structure:

fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(5, 5))
plot_atoms(atoms, ax, rotation=('45x,45y,0z'), show_unit_cell=2, radii=0.75)
ax.set_axis_off()
plt.tight_layout()
plt.show()
md

Now let’s run the MD simulation and monitor the kinetic and potential energy of the whole system:

# Describe the interatomic interactions with the Effective Medium Theory (EMT)
atoms.calc = EMT()

# Set the initial velocities corresponding to T=300K from Maxwell Boltzmann
# Distribution
MaxwellBoltzmannDistribution(atoms, temperature_K=300)

# We use Velocity Verlet algorithm to integrate the Newton's equations.
timestep_fs = 5
dyn = VelocityVerlet(atoms, timestep_fs * units.fs)  # 5 fs time step.


def printenergy(a):
    """
    Function to print the thermodynamical properties i.e potential energy,
    kinetic energy and total energy
    """
    epot = a.get_potential_energy()
    ekin = a.get_kinetic_energy()
    temp = a.get_temperature()
    print(
        f'Energy per atom: Epot ={epot:6.3f}eV  Ekin = {ekin:.3f}eV '
        f'(T={temp:.3f}K) Etot = {epot + ekin:.3f}eV'
    )


# Now run the dynamics
print('running a NVE simulation of fcc Cu')
printenergy(atoms)
# init lists to for energy vs time data
time_ps, epot, ekin = [], [], []
mdind = 0
steps_per_block = 10
for i in range(20):
    dyn.run(steps_per_block)
    mdind += steps_per_block
    printenergy(atoms)
    # save the energies of the current MD step
    time_ps.append(mdind * timestep_fs / 1000.0)
    epot.append(atoms.get_potential_energy())
    ekin.append(atoms.get_kinetic_energy())

etot = np.array(epot) + np.array(ekin)

# Plot energies vs time
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 4))
ax.plot(time_ps, epot, label='Potential energy')
ax.plot(time_ps, ekin, label='Kinetic energy')
ax.plot(time_ps, etot, label='Total energy')
ax.set_xlabel('Time (ps)')
ax.set_ylabel('Energy (eV)')
ax.legend(loc='best')
ax.grid(True, linewidth=0.5, alpha=0.5)
plt.tight_layout()
plt.show()
md
/builds/ase/ase/examples/tutorials/md.py:98: DeprecationWarning: Use thermalize_momenta
  MaxwellBoltzmannDistribution(atoms, temperature_K=300)
running a NVE simulation of fcc Cu
Energy per atom: Epot =-2.405eV  Ekin = 156.097eV (T=301.906K) Etot = 153.693eV
Energy per atom: Epot =117.400eV  Ekin = 37.079eV (T=71.714K) Etot = 154.480eV
Energy per atom: Epot =79.252eV  Ekin = 75.098eV (T=145.246K) Etot = 154.350eV
Energy per atom: Epot =71.656eV  Ekin = 82.541eV (T=159.641K) Etot = 154.196eV
Energy per atom: Epot =69.629eV  Ekin = 84.510eV (T=163.449K) Etot = 154.139eV
Energy per atom: Epot =81.194eV  Ekin = 73.111eV (T=141.404K) Etot = 154.305eV
Energy per atom: Epot =78.936eV  Ekin = 75.365eV (T=145.762K) Etot = 154.301eV
Energy per atom: Epot =73.459eV  Ekin = 80.744eV (T=156.165K) Etot = 154.202eV
Energy per atom: Epot =73.324eV  Ekin = 80.883eV (T=156.434K) Etot = 154.207eV
Energy per atom: Epot =78.050eV  Ekin = 76.223eV (T=147.422K) Etot = 154.273eV
Energy per atom: Epot =76.511eV  Ekin = 77.741eV (T=150.358K) Etot = 154.253eV
Energy per atom: Epot =74.751eV  Ekin = 79.481eV (T=153.723K) Etot = 154.232eV
Energy per atom: Epot =76.355eV  Ekin = 77.889eV (T=150.643K) Etot = 154.243eV
Energy per atom: Epot =77.889eV  Ekin = 76.366eV (T=147.699K) Etot = 154.255eV
Energy per atom: Epot =74.289eV  Ekin = 79.953eV (T=154.637K) Etot = 154.242eV
Energy per atom: Epot =75.854eV  Ekin = 78.401eV (T=151.635K) Etot = 154.255eV
Energy per atom: Epot =75.042eV  Ekin = 79.189eV (T=153.158K) Etot = 154.231eV
Energy per atom: Epot =77.881eV  Ekin = 76.360eV (T=147.686K) Etot = 154.241eV
Energy per atom: Epot =74.995eV  Ekin = 79.249eV (T=153.274K) Etot = 154.244eV
Energy per atom: Epot =74.988eV  Ekin = 79.250eV (T=153.276K) Etot = 154.238eV
Energy per atom: Epot =79.748eV  Ekin = 74.519eV (T=144.126K) Etot = 154.267eV

Note how the total energy is conserved, but the kinetic energy quickly drops to half the expected value. Why?

What you learned here:

  • How to set up a basic MD run.

  • How to monitor the energy over time.

  • That total energy is approximately conserved in NVE simulations, what is the error in total energy?

Exercise: Tune the time step from 5fs to 10fs and 50fs, what changes do you observe in total energy?

Part 2: Constant temperature MD#

In many cases, you want to control temperature (NVT ensemble). This can be done using a thermostat, like – in this tutorial – Langevin thermostat. Compared to the previous example, we replace the line dyn = VelocityVerlet(...) with

dyn = Langevin(atoms, timestep=5 * units.fs, temperature_K=T,
friction=0.02)

where T is the desired temperature in Kelvin. For that we also imported the Langevin in the beginning.

The Langevin dynamics will then slowly adjust the total energy of the system so the temperature approaches the desired one.

As a slightly less boring example, let us use this to melt a chunk of copper by starting the simulation without any momentum of the atoms (no kinetic energy), and with a desired temperature above the melting point. We will also save information about the atoms in a trajectory file called moldyn3.traj.

Note

It is recommended to use the asap3 implementation of the EMT calculator here, because its performance benefits over the ase implementation.

size = 10
T = 1500  # Kelvin

# Set up a crystal
atoms = LatticeFCC(
    directions=[[1, 0, 0], [0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 1]],
    symbol='Cu',
    size=(size, size, size),
    pbc=False,
)

# Describe the interatomic interactions with the Effective Medium Theory
atoms.calc = EMT()

# We want to run MD with constant energy using the Langevin algorithm
# with a time step of 5 fs, the temperature T and the friction
# coefficient to 0.02 atomic units.
timestep_fs = 5
dyn = Langevin(
    atoms, timestep=timestep_fs * units.fs, temperature_K=T, friction=0.02
)

# We also want to save the positions of all atoms after every 100th time step.
traj = Trajectory('fccCu_NPT.traj', 'w', atoms)

# Now run the dynamics
print('running a NVT simulation of fcc Cu')
printenergy(atoms)
time_ps, temperature = [], []
mdind = 0
steps_per_block = 10
for i in range(200):
    dyn.run(steps_per_block)
    mdind += steps_per_block
    printenergy(atoms)
    # save the temperature of the current MD step
    time_ps.append(mdind * timestep_fs / 1000.0)
    temperature.append(atoms.get_temperature())

# Plot temperatures vs time
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 4))
ax.plot(time_ps, temperature)
ax.set_xlabel('Time (ps)')
ax.set_ylabel('Temperature (K)')
ax.grid(True, linewidth=0.5, alpha=0.5)
plt.tight_layout()
plt.show()
md
/home/ase/.local/lib/python3.13/site-packages/ase/md/langevin.py:110: FutureWarning: The implementation of `fixcm=True` in `Langevin` does not strictly sample the correct NVT distributions. The deviations are typically small for large systems but can be more pronounced for small systems. Use `fixcm=False` together with `ase.constraints.FixCom`. `fixcm` is deprecated since ASE 3.28.0 and will be removed in a future release.
  warnings.warn(msg, FutureWarning)
running a NVT simulation of fcc Cu
Energy per atom: Epot =540.816eV  Ekin = 0.000eV (T=0.000K) Etot = 540.816eV
Energy per atom: Epot =599.863eV  Ekin = 81.019eV (T=156.698K) Etot = 680.882eV
Energy per atom: Epot =671.254eV  Ekin = 141.663eV (T=273.989K) Etot = 812.917eV
Energy per atom: Epot =733.099eV  Ekin = 202.899eV (T=392.425K) Etot = 935.998eV
Energy per atom: Epot =785.005eV  Ekin = 258.433eV (T=499.832K) Etot = 1043.438eV
Energy per atom: Epot =839.902eV  Ekin = 302.028eV (T=584.149K) Etot = 1141.930eV
Energy per atom: Epot =888.813eV  Ekin = 343.352eV (T=664.073K) Etot = 1232.166eV
Energy per atom: Epot =928.437eV  Ekin = 379.970eV (T=734.894K) Etot = 1308.407eV
Energy per atom: Epot =968.931eV  Ekin = 415.570eV (T=803.748K) Etot = 1384.501eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1006.733eV  Ekin = 447.267eV (T=865.054K) Etot = 1454.000eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1040.708eV  Ekin = 474.113eV (T=916.975K) Etot = 1514.821eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1074.898eV  Ekin = 496.204eV (T=959.701K) Etot = 1571.102eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1109.815eV  Ekin = 514.819eV (T=995.705K) Etot = 1624.634eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1142.202eV  Ekin = 529.125eV (T=1023.374K) Etot = 1671.327eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1166.478eV  Ekin = 547.750eV (T=1059.397K) Etot = 1714.228eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1197.230eV  Ekin = 560.633eV (T=1084.313K) Etot = 1757.863eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1226.905eV  Ekin = 571.538eV (T=1105.404K) Etot = 1798.443eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1248.783eV  Ekin = 584.251eV (T=1129.992K) Etot = 1833.033eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1276.000eV  Ekin = 592.524eV (T=1145.994K) Etot = 1868.525eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1307.411eV  Ekin = 599.526eV (T=1159.535K) Etot = 1906.937eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1321.798eV  Ekin = 610.074eV (T=1179.936K) Etot = 1931.872eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1358.589eV  Ekin = 614.793eV (T=1189.064K) Etot = 1973.382eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1381.445eV  Ekin = 628.464eV (T=1215.505K) Etot = 2009.910eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1397.328eV  Ekin = 639.566eV (T=1236.976K) Etot = 2036.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1410.312eV  Ekin = 654.920eV (T=1266.672K) Etot = 2065.232eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1421.236eV  Ekin = 665.911eV (T=1287.929K) Etot = 2087.147eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1449.322eV  Ekin = 657.810eV (T=1272.262K) Etot = 2107.132eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1447.966eV  Ekin = 682.499eV (T=1320.013K) Etot = 2130.465eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1485.258eV  Ekin = 668.840eV (T=1293.594K) Etot = 2154.098eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1491.057eV  Ekin = 682.649eV (T=1320.303K) Etot = 2173.706eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1505.693eV  Ekin = 684.610eV (T=1324.095K) Etot = 2190.303eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1520.130eV  Ekin = 686.416eV (T=1327.588K) Etot = 2206.546eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1539.816eV  Ekin = 675.767eV (T=1306.991K) Etot = 2215.583eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1549.819eV  Ekin = 692.775eV (T=1339.887K) Etot = 2242.594eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1549.927eV  Ekin = 706.557eV (T=1366.543K) Etot = 2256.484eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1563.177eV  Ekin = 692.828eV (T=1339.990K) Etot = 2256.005eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1576.196eV  Ekin = 695.758eV (T=1345.656K) Etot = 2271.954eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1582.316eV  Ekin = 703.532eV (T=1360.692K) Etot = 2285.848eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1607.786eV  Ekin = 697.454eV (T=1348.937K) Etot = 2305.241eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1603.247eV  Ekin = 708.860eV (T=1370.996K) Etot = 2312.106eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1595.131eV  Ekin = 728.042eV (T=1408.096K) Etot = 2323.172eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1610.368eV  Ekin = 723.996eV (T=1400.271K) Etot = 2334.364eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1630.612eV  Ekin = 712.342eV (T=1377.731K) Etot = 2342.954eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1632.898eV  Ekin = 720.792eV (T=1394.074K) Etot = 2353.689eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1656.805eV  Ekin = 705.482eV (T=1364.464K) Etot = 2362.287eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1645.471eV  Ekin = 731.199eV (T=1414.202K) Etot = 2376.670eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1654.562eV  Ekin = 724.872eV (T=1401.966K) Etot = 2379.434eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1663.987eV  Ekin = 726.698eV (T=1405.497K) Etot = 2390.685eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1673.875eV  Ekin = 725.103eV (T=1402.412K) Etot = 2398.977eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1675.060eV  Ekin = 731.491eV (T=1414.768K) Etot = 2406.551eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1682.710eV  Ekin = 726.951eV (T=1405.987K) Etot = 2409.661eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1694.000eV  Ekin = 723.892eV (T=1400.069K) Etot = 2417.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1698.133eV  Ekin = 727.521eV (T=1407.088K) Etot = 2425.654eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1705.616eV  Ekin = 732.616eV (T=1416.944K) Etot = 2438.233eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1715.130eV  Ekin = 736.819eV (T=1425.073K) Etot = 2451.949eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1720.102eV  Ekin = 743.147eV (T=1437.311K) Etot = 2463.249eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1733.007eV  Ekin = 736.769eV (T=1424.975K) Etot = 2469.776eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1748.954eV  Ekin = 734.493eV (T=1420.573K) Etot = 2483.447eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1749.507eV  Ekin = 743.958eV (T=1438.880K) Etot = 2493.465eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1762.574eV  Ekin = 730.407eV (T=1412.671K) Etot = 2492.981eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1751.603eV  Ekin = 744.958eV (T=1440.814K) Etot = 2496.561eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1776.343eV  Ekin = 734.030eV (T=1419.678K) Etot = 2510.374eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1788.869eV  Ekin = 733.475eV (T=1418.605K) Etot = 2522.344eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1793.141eV  Ekin = 733.390eV (T=1418.440K) Etot = 2526.531eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1799.370eV  Ekin = 728.068eV (T=1408.147K) Etot = 2527.438eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1809.089eV  Ekin = 730.805eV (T=1413.441K) Etot = 2539.895eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1811.960eV  Ekin = 738.619eV (T=1428.554K) Etot = 2550.580eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1814.697eV  Ekin = 741.073eV (T=1433.300K) Etot = 2555.770eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1820.151eV  Ekin = 741.839eV (T=1434.781K) Etot = 2561.990eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1832.582eV  Ekin = 734.934eV (T=1421.426K) Etot = 2567.516eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1832.152eV  Ekin = 736.039eV (T=1423.564K) Etot = 2568.191eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1830.719eV  Ekin = 732.502eV (T=1416.722K) Etot = 2563.221eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1834.386eV  Ekin = 735.434eV (T=1422.394K) Etot = 2569.820eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1839.604eV  Ekin = 736.209eV (T=1423.892K) Etot = 2575.812eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1852.810eV  Ekin = 725.849eV (T=1403.854K) Etot = 2578.659eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1856.144eV  Ekin = 736.268eV (T=1424.006K) Etot = 2592.412eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1861.925eV  Ekin = 732.560eV (T=1416.835K) Etot = 2594.485eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1852.745eV  Ekin = 747.786eV (T=1446.284K) Etot = 2600.531eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1851.066eV  Ekin = 754.721eV (T=1459.695K) Etot = 2605.786eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1852.498eV  Ekin = 755.809eV (T=1461.801K) Etot = 2608.307eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1878.824eV  Ekin = 742.971eV (T=1436.971K) Etot = 2621.795eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1865.645eV  Ekin = 762.647eV (T=1475.026K) Etot = 2628.292eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1877.223eV  Ekin = 757.737eV (T=1465.529K) Etot = 2634.959eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1880.075eV  Ekin = 765.152eV (T=1479.870K) Etot = 2645.226eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1878.509eV  Ekin = 761.380eV (T=1472.575K) Etot = 2639.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1892.481eV  Ekin = 750.481eV (T=1451.496K) Etot = 2642.962eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1899.228eV  Ekin = 752.413eV (T=1455.232K) Etot = 2651.641eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1909.637eV  Ekin = 745.835eV (T=1442.509K) Etot = 2655.471eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1899.756eV  Ekin = 761.019eV (T=1471.877K) Etot = 2660.775eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1916.771eV  Ekin = 745.748eV (T=1442.342K) Etot = 2662.519eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1919.009eV  Ekin = 751.393eV (T=1453.259K) Etot = 2670.401eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1927.797eV  Ekin = 753.875eV (T=1458.059K) Etot = 2681.671eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1923.323eV  Ekin = 756.562eV (T=1463.257K) Etot = 2679.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1925.546eV  Ekin = 757.916eV (T=1465.876K) Etot = 2683.462eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1930.412eV  Ekin = 758.051eV (T=1466.137K) Etot = 2688.463eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1936.708eV  Ekin = 759.634eV (T=1469.199K) Etot = 2696.343eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1954.285eV  Ekin = 746.142eV (T=1443.103K) Etot = 2700.427eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1947.392eV  Ekin = 753.017eV (T=1456.400K) Etot = 2700.409eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1952.778eV  Ekin = 741.002eV (T=1433.161K) Etot = 2693.779eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1950.195eV  Ekin = 747.070eV (T=1444.898K) Etot = 2697.265eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1963.720eV  Ekin = 732.119eV (T=1415.981K) Etot = 2695.838eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1952.807eV  Ekin = 747.417eV (T=1445.570K) Etot = 2700.224eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1950.688eV  Ekin = 752.470eV (T=1455.343K) Etot = 2703.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1947.069eV  Ekin = 752.944eV (T=1456.260K) Etot = 2700.014eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1959.222eV  Ekin = 752.706eV (T=1455.799K) Etot = 2711.928eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1964.412eV  Ekin = 748.282eV (T=1447.243K) Etot = 2712.695eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1966.683eV  Ekin = 752.730eV (T=1455.845K) Etot = 2719.413eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1948.627eV  Ekin = 771.027eV (T=1491.234K) Etot = 2719.654eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1963.624eV  Ekin = 755.552eV (T=1461.304K) Etot = 2719.177eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1957.711eV  Ekin = 762.710eV (T=1475.148K) Etot = 2720.421eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1970.614eV  Ekin = 749.799eV (T=1450.176K) Etot = 2720.413eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1972.844eV  Ekin = 756.985eV (T=1464.075K) Etot = 2729.829eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1971.468eV  Ekin = 764.149eV (T=1477.931K) Etot = 2735.618eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1984.457eV  Ekin = 741.214eV (T=1433.572K) Etot = 2725.671eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1970.798eV  Ekin = 758.428eV (T=1466.867K) Etot = 2729.227eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1986.613eV  Ekin = 757.805eV (T=1465.661K) Etot = 2744.418eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1989.122eV  Ekin = 753.993eV (T=1458.287K) Etot = 2743.115eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1993.011eV  Ekin = 751.512eV (T=1453.490K) Etot = 2744.523eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1989.774eV  Ekin = 754.970eV (T=1460.178K) Etot = 2744.744eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1990.459eV  Ekin = 755.282eV (T=1460.781K) Etot = 2745.741eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1982.625eV  Ekin = 765.699eV (T=1480.928K) Etot = 2748.324eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1984.115eV  Ekin = 771.933eV (T=1492.985K) Etot = 2756.047eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1998.277eV  Ekin = 773.550eV (T=1496.113K) Etot = 2771.827eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2014.108eV  Ekin = 751.815eV (T=1454.076K) Etot = 2765.923eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1996.072eV  Ekin = 768.870eV (T=1487.061K) Etot = 2764.942eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2002.744eV  Ekin = 765.171eV (T=1479.907K) Etot = 2767.916eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2005.127eV  Ekin = 762.721eV (T=1475.169K) Etot = 2767.848eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2017.985eV  Ekin = 762.950eV (T=1475.612K) Etot = 2780.935eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2016.624eV  Ekin = 767.842eV (T=1485.073K) Etot = 2784.466eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2008.409eV  Ekin = 772.039eV (T=1493.191K) Etot = 2780.448eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2018.444eV  Ekin = 770.325eV (T=1489.876K) Etot = 2788.769eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2007.845eV  Ekin = 775.912eV (T=1500.681K) Etot = 2783.757eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2003.835eV  Ekin = 775.760eV (T=1500.388K) Etot = 2779.596eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2010.632eV  Ekin = 760.450eV (T=1470.776K) Etot = 2771.082eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1997.586eV  Ekin = 771.556eV (T=1492.255K) Etot = 2769.141eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2014.179eV  Ekin = 759.874eV (T=1469.662K) Etot = 2774.053eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2000.451eV  Ekin = 772.534eV (T=1494.149K) Etot = 2772.985eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2006.330eV  Ekin = 772.165eV (T=1493.435K) Etot = 2778.495eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2010.679eV  Ekin = 764.168eV (T=1477.967K) Etot = 2774.846eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2005.036eV  Ekin = 764.503eV (T=1478.615K) Etot = 2769.539eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2005.477eV  Ekin = 762.476eV (T=1474.695K) Etot = 2767.953eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2000.717eV  Ekin = 762.395eV (T=1474.539K) Etot = 2763.112eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1997.079eV  Ekin = 768.382eV (T=1486.117K) Etot = 2765.461eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1999.442eV  Ekin = 767.858eV (T=1485.103K) Etot = 2767.300eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1996.881eV  Ekin = 773.899eV (T=1496.787K) Etot = 2770.780eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1984.466eV  Ekin = 788.011eV (T=1524.082K) Etot = 2772.477eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2008.070eV  Ekin = 772.876eV (T=1494.809K) Etot = 2780.945eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2002.766eV  Ekin = 773.705eV (T=1496.412K) Etot = 2776.471eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1986.229eV  Ekin = 785.542eV (T=1519.306K) Etot = 2771.770eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1999.966eV  Ekin = 777.157eV (T=1503.088K) Etot = 2777.122eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1998.633eV  Ekin = 771.775eV (T=1492.679K) Etot = 2770.408eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1991.206eV  Ekin = 779.610eV (T=1507.834K) Etot = 2770.816eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1988.539eV  Ekin = 776.102eV (T=1501.049K) Etot = 2764.641eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1990.359eV  Ekin = 776.070eV (T=1500.987K) Etot = 2766.429eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1997.493eV  Ekin = 780.592eV (T=1509.733K) Etot = 2778.086eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1990.917eV  Ekin = 784.082eV (T=1516.483K) Etot = 2775.000eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2009.800eV  Ekin = 768.810eV (T=1486.945K) Etot = 2778.610eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1997.999eV  Ekin = 769.463eV (T=1488.209K) Etot = 2767.462eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2007.869eV  Ekin = 759.528eV (T=1468.994K) Etot = 2767.398eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1996.089eV  Ekin = 768.982eV (T=1487.277K) Etot = 2765.071eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2009.845eV  Ekin = 766.820eV (T=1483.097K) Etot = 2776.665eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2013.879eV  Ekin = 760.733eV (T=1471.324K) Etot = 2774.612eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2027.628eV  Ekin = 753.464eV (T=1457.266K) Etot = 2781.093eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2003.059eV  Ekin = 781.090eV (T=1510.696K) Etot = 2784.148eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2008.224eV  Ekin = 767.699eV (T=1484.796K) Etot = 2775.923eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2013.312eV  Ekin = 754.781eV (T=1459.812K) Etot = 2768.093eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1999.006eV  Ekin = 762.355eV (T=1474.461K) Etot = 2761.360eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2001.102eV  Ekin = 754.815eV (T=1459.878K) Etot = 2755.917eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2011.725eV  Ekin = 749.939eV (T=1450.447K) Etot = 2761.664eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2004.756eV  Ekin = 765.033eV (T=1479.640K) Etot = 2769.788eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1993.548eV  Ekin = 781.689eV (T=1511.855K) Etot = 2775.237eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2001.654eV  Ekin = 776.840eV (T=1502.476K) Etot = 2778.494eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2005.493eV  Ekin = 774.364eV (T=1497.688K) Etot = 2779.857eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1994.871eV  Ekin = 773.315eV (T=1495.659K) Etot = 2768.186eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1995.403eV  Ekin = 775.694eV (T=1500.260K) Etot = 2771.097eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1999.197eV  Ekin = 765.336eV (T=1480.227K) Etot = 2764.533eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1987.214eV  Ekin = 776.475eV (T=1501.770K) Etot = 2763.689eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1988.666eV  Ekin = 772.831eV (T=1494.722K) Etot = 2761.497eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1986.248eV  Ekin = 767.389eV (T=1484.197K) Etot = 2753.637eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1987.586eV  Ekin = 758.140eV (T=1466.309K) Etot = 2745.726eV
Energy per atom: Epot =2000.736eV  Ekin = 750.490eV (T=1451.513K) Etot = 2751.226eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1992.777eV  Ekin = 761.778eV (T=1473.344K) Etot = 2754.554eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1995.388eV  Ekin = 751.389eV (T=1453.251K) Etot = 2746.777eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1986.578eV  Ekin = 756.646eV (T=1463.419K) Etot = 2743.224eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1990.791eV  Ekin = 758.862eV (T=1467.706K) Etot = 2749.654eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1970.020eV  Ekin = 781.003eV (T=1510.527K) Etot = 2751.023eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1982.683eV  Ekin = 766.688eV (T=1482.841K) Etot = 2749.371eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1986.490eV  Ekin = 757.973eV (T=1465.986K) Etot = 2744.464eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1988.903eV  Ekin = 764.465eV (T=1478.541K) Etot = 2753.367eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1985.093eV  Ekin = 769.774eV (T=1488.810K) Etot = 2754.868eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1983.047eV  Ekin = 767.411eV (T=1484.239K) Etot = 2750.457eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1980.830eV  Ekin = 767.594eV (T=1484.593K) Etot = 2748.423eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1980.121eV  Ekin = 776.546eV (T=1501.907K) Etot = 2756.667eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1975.787eV  Ekin = 766.500eV (T=1482.477K) Etot = 2742.287eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1972.230eV  Ekin = 771.429eV (T=1492.010K) Etot = 2743.659eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1982.310eV  Ekin = 764.365eV (T=1478.348K) Etot = 2746.675eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1970.566eV  Ekin = 773.700eV (T=1496.402K) Etot = 2744.266eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1963.281eV  Ekin = 775.404eV (T=1499.700K) Etot = 2738.686eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1962.074eV  Ekin = 769.827eV (T=1488.913K) Etot = 2731.901eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1974.929eV  Ekin = 762.123eV (T=1474.012K) Etot = 2737.052eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1978.128eV  Ekin = 763.502eV (T=1476.679K) Etot = 2741.630eV

After running the simulation, you can study the result with the command

ase gui fccCu_NPT.traj

Try plotting the kinetic energy. Like in the temperature vs time plot you will not see a well-defined melting point due to finite size effects (including surface melting), but you will probably see an almost flat region where the inside of the system melts. The outermost layers melt at a lower temperature.

Note

The Langevin dynamics will by default keep the position and momentum of the center of mass unperturbed. This is another improvement over just setting momenta corresponding to a temperature, as we did before.

Part 3: Isolated particle MD#

When simulating isolated particles with MD, it is sometimes preferable to set random momenta corresponding to a specific temperature and let the system evolve freely. With a relatively high temperature, the is however a risk that the collection of atoms will drift out of the simulation box because the randomized momenta gave the center of mass a small but non-zero velocity too.

Let us see what happens when we propagate a nanoparticle:

size = 4
atoms = ClusterFCC(
    'Cu',
    surfaces=[[1, 0, 0], [1, 1, 0], [1, 1, 1]],
    layers=(size, size, size),
    vacuum=4,
)
# asap3 requires a non-zero cell even if pbc are not applied
atoms.cell = [40] * 3
atoms.set_pbc(False)  # isolated cluster (explicit, for clarity)

# Describe the interatomic interactions with the Effective Medium Theory
atoms.calc = EMT()

# Quick relaxation of the cluster
qn = QuasiNewton(atoms)
qn.run(fmax=0.001, steps=10)

# Set the momenta corresponding to T=1200 K
MaxwellBoltzmannDistribution(atoms, temperature_K=1200)
Stationary(atoms)  # zero linear momentum
ZeroRotation(atoms)  # zero angular momentum

# Run MD using the Velocity Verlet algorithm and save trajectory
dyn = VelocityVerlet(atoms, 5 * units.fs, trajectory='nanoparticleCu_NVE.traj')

print('running a NVE simulation of a Cu nanoparticle')
printenergy(atoms)
steps_per_block = 10
for i in range(200):
    dyn.run(steps_per_block)
    printenergy(atoms)
                Step[ FC]     Time          Energy          fmax
BFGSLineSearch:    0[  0] 00:08:53       43.457006       1.0818
BFGSLineSearch:    1[  1] 00:08:53       42.347659       0.2273
BFGSLineSearch:    2[  2] 00:08:53       42.108454       0.1349
BFGSLineSearch:    3[  3] 00:08:53       41.964817       0.1138
BFGSLineSearch:    4[  4] 00:08:53       41.924933       0.0683
BFGSLineSearch:    5[  5] 00:08:53       41.915346       0.0225
BFGSLineSearch:    6[  6] 00:08:53       41.914920       0.0059
BFGSLineSearch:    7[  7] 00:08:53       41.914872       0.0023
BFGSLineSearch:    8[  9] 00:08:53       41.914855       0.0023
BFGSLineSearch:    9[ 10] 00:08:53       41.914851       0.0010
/builds/ase/ase/examples/tutorials/md.py:299: DeprecationWarning: Use thermalize_momenta
  MaxwellBoltzmannDistribution(atoms, temperature_K=1200)
running a NVE simulation of a Cu nanoparticle
Energy per atom: Epot =41.915eV  Ekin = 13.199eV (T=1097.965K) Etot = 55.114eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.203eV  Ekin = 5.944eV (T=494.421K) Etot = 55.147eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.276eV  Ekin = 5.883eV (T=489.350K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.411eV  Ekin = 5.750eV (T=478.319K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.739eV  Ekin = 5.424eV (T=451.217K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.526eV  Ekin = 5.638eV (T=469.040K) Etot = 55.165eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.504eV  Ekin = 6.654eV (T=553.540K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.512eV  Ekin = 6.644eV (T=552.669K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.712eV  Ekin = 6.452eV (T=536.722K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.234eV  Ekin = 5.930eV (T=493.335K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.282eV  Ekin = 5.878eV (T=488.994K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.457eV  Ekin = 5.705eV (T=474.613K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.956eV  Ekin = 6.200eV (T=515.792K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.525eV  Ekin = 6.628eV (T=551.337K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.139eV  Ekin = 6.022eV (T=500.928K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.381eV  Ekin = 5.784eV (T=481.136K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.076eV  Ekin = 6.085eV (T=506.204K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.563eV  Ekin = 6.594eV (T=548.491K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.995eV  Ekin = 6.163eV (T=512.672K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.395eV  Ekin = 6.759eV (T=562.263K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.089eV  Ekin = 6.070eV (T=504.953K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.121eV  Ekin = 7.035eV (T=585.233K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.905eV  Ekin = 6.256eV (T=520.455K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.463eV  Ekin = 5.698eV (T=474.029K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.540eV  Ekin = 6.615eV (T=550.287K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.660eV  Ekin = 6.493eV (T=540.093K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.942eV  Ekin = 7.208eV (T=599.605K) Etot = 55.150eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.255eV  Ekin = 5.908eV (T=491.434K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.764eV  Ekin = 6.396eV (T=532.045K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.500eV  Ekin = 5.660eV (T=470.814K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.747eV  Ekin = 5.413eV (T=450.289K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.193eV  Ekin = 5.966eV (T=496.281K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.474eV  Ekin = 6.682eV (T=555.887K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.896eV  Ekin = 6.261eV (T=520.830K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.140eV  Ekin = 6.019eV (T=500.714K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.192eV  Ekin = 5.968eV (T=496.467K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.373eV  Ekin = 5.790eV (T=481.627K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.483eV  Ekin = 5.675eV (T=472.112K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.902eV  Ekin = 6.255eV (T=520.308K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.114eV  Ekin = 7.040eV (T=585.636K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.087eV  Ekin = 6.071eV (T=505.047K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.341eV  Ekin = 6.815eV (T=566.892K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.075eV  Ekin = 6.086eV (T=506.257K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.809eV  Ekin = 6.350eV (T=528.237K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.672eV  Ekin = 6.484eV (T=539.417K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.059eV  Ekin = 6.100eV (T=507.430K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.725eV  Ekin = 6.435eV (T=535.302K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.583eV  Ekin = 6.577eV (T=547.098K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.511eV  Ekin = 6.644eV (T=552.705K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.798eV  Ekin = 6.361eV (T=529.118K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.672eV  Ekin = 6.486eV (T=539.534K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.722eV  Ekin = 6.437eV (T=535.487K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.477eV  Ekin = 6.683eV (T=555.942K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.532eV  Ekin = 6.623eV (T=550.910K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.321eV  Ekin = 6.832eV (T=568.336K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.472eV  Ekin = 5.692eV (T=473.491K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.257eV  Ekin = 6.901eV (T=574.037K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.040eV  Ekin = 6.119eV (T=509.042K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.185eV  Ekin = 5.976eV (T=497.141K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.540eV  Ekin = 6.617eV (T=550.449K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.493eV  Ekin = 6.666eV (T=554.491K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.763eV  Ekin = 6.401eV (T=532.441K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.503eV  Ekin = 6.658eV (T=553.834K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.363eV  Ekin = 6.794eV (T=565.170K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.083eV  Ekin = 6.080eV (T=505.753K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.913eV  Ekin = 6.248eV (T=519.781K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.426eV  Ekin = 6.731eV (T=559.935K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.215eV  Ekin = 5.947eV (T=494.732K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.614eV  Ekin = 6.546eV (T=544.555K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.068eV  Ekin = 7.088eV (T=589.633K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.848eV  Ekin = 6.315eV (T=525.282K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.326eV  Ekin = 6.832eV (T=568.369K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.563eV  Ekin = 6.595eV (T=548.600K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.780eV  Ekin = 7.373eV (T=613.342K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.161eV  Ekin = 5.997eV (T=498.862K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.720eV  Ekin = 6.438eV (T=535.574K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.888eV  Ekin = 6.273eV (T=521.803K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.961eV  Ekin = 6.204eV (T=516.052K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.002eV  Ekin = 6.160eV (T=512.423K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.971eV  Ekin = 6.187eV (T=514.656K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.872eV  Ekin = 7.280eV (T=605.565K) Etot = 55.151eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.064eV  Ekin = 6.096eV (T=507.081K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.082eV  Ekin = 7.069eV (T=588.006K) Etot = 55.150eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.155eV  Ekin = 7.001eV (T=582.354K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.958eV  Ekin = 6.202eV (T=515.932K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.210eV  Ekin = 5.948eV (T=494.773K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.009eV  Ekin = 6.150eV (T=511.566K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.500eV  Ekin = 6.658eV (T=553.865K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.469eV  Ekin = 6.691eV (T=556.591K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.876eV  Ekin = 7.280eV (T=605.601K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.772eV  Ekin = 6.390eV (T=531.595K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.476eV  Ekin = 6.682eV (T=555.849K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.789eV  Ekin = 6.372eV (T=530.064K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.125eV  Ekin = 6.033eV (T=501.887K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.329eV  Ekin = 5.835eV (T=485.359K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.013eV  Ekin = 6.145eV (T=511.213K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.257eV  Ekin = 6.896eV (T=573.679K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.063eV  Ekin = 6.099eV (T=507.383K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.505eV  Ekin = 6.650eV (T=553.195K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.762eV  Ekin = 6.395eV (T=531.976K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.568eV  Ekin = 6.592eV (T=548.351K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.079eV  Ekin = 6.082eV (T=505.981K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.659eV  Ekin = 6.500eV (T=540.695K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.766eV  Ekin = 6.393eV (T=531.830K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.952eV  Ekin = 6.203eV (T=516.027K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.758eV  Ekin = 6.400eV (T=532.383K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.714eV  Ekin = 6.444eV (T=536.090K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.204eV  Ekin = 5.957eV (T=495.536K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.088eV  Ekin = 6.072eV (T=505.126K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.970eV  Ekin = 6.191eV (T=515.002K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.838eV  Ekin = 6.323eV (T=525.971K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.165eV  Ekin = 6.991eV (T=581.529K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.244eV  Ekin = 5.914eV (T=491.928K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.471eV  Ekin = 6.686eV (T=556.204K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.652eV  Ekin = 6.510eV (T=541.557K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.818eV  Ekin = 6.342eV (T=527.587K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.912eV  Ekin = 6.248eV (T=519.775K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.427eV  Ekin = 6.732eV (T=560.047K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.056eV  Ekin = 7.097eV (T=590.394K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.091eV  Ekin = 7.062eV (T=587.439K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.068eV  Ekin = 7.086eV (T=589.438K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.951eV  Ekin = 6.212eV (T=516.718K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.097eV  Ekin = 6.064eV (T=504.420K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.134eV  Ekin = 6.023eV (T=501.060K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.132eV  Ekin = 7.021eV (T=584.067K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.020eV  Ekin = 6.139eV (T=510.721K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.131eV  Ekin = 7.026eV (T=584.496K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.606eV  Ekin = 6.552eV (T=545.066K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.456eV  Ekin = 6.703eV (T=557.572K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.973eV  Ekin = 6.190eV (T=514.948K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.689eV  Ekin = 7.466eV (T=621.092K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.890eV  Ekin = 7.265eV (T=604.343K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.985eV  Ekin = 6.178eV (T=513.896K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.831eV  Ekin = 7.325eV (T=609.326K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.997eV  Ekin = 7.155eV (T=595.198K) Etot = 55.152eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.075eV  Ekin = 7.080eV (T=588.991K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.897eV  Ekin = 7.261eV (T=603.998K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.408eV  Ekin = 7.745eV (T=644.283K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.064eV  Ekin = 7.093eV (T=590.007K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.261eV  Ekin = 6.900eV (T=574.026K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.932eV  Ekin = 7.222eV (T=600.736K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =46.787eV  Ekin = 8.362eV (T=695.612K) Etot = 55.149eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.501eV  Ekin = 6.655eV (T=553.641K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.517eV  Ekin = 6.636eV (T=552.004K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.237eV  Ekin = 6.925eV (T=576.025K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.827eV  Ekin = 7.329eV (T=609.633K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.940eV  Ekin = 6.215eV (T=517.031K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.686eV  Ekin = 7.467eV (T=621.130K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.772eV  Ekin = 6.389eV (T=531.520K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.252eV  Ekin = 6.910eV (T=574.829K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.625eV  Ekin = 7.532eV (T=626.524K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.717eV  Ekin = 6.440eV (T=535.738K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.544eV  Ekin = 7.609eV (T=632.992K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.925eV  Ekin = 7.234eV (T=601.762K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.795eV  Ekin = 6.367eV (T=529.629K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.209eV  Ekin = 6.948eV (T=578.014K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.451eV  Ekin = 6.709eV (T=558.114K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.518eV  Ekin = 6.644eV (T=552.699K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.048eV  Ekin = 7.115eV (T=591.896K) Etot = 55.164eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.565eV  Ekin = 7.590eV (T=631.364K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.740eV  Ekin = 6.416eV (T=533.712K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.206eV  Ekin = 6.947eV (T=577.930K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.582eV  Ekin = 6.575eV (T=546.980K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.568eV  Ekin = 6.590eV (T=548.182K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.038eV  Ekin = 7.120eV (T=592.304K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.111eV  Ekin = 7.049eV (T=586.358K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.313eV  Ekin = 6.847eV (T=569.567K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.697eV  Ekin = 6.462eV (T=537.553K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.128eV  Ekin = 7.027eV (T=584.578K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.634eV  Ekin = 6.525eV (T=542.806K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.894eV  Ekin = 7.267eV (T=604.506K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.659eV  Ekin = 6.502eV (T=540.906K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.596eV  Ekin = 6.560eV (T=545.742K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.389eV  Ekin = 7.766eV (T=646.061K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.910eV  Ekin = 7.248eV (T=602.950K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.529eV  Ekin = 6.629eV (T=551.442K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.567eV  Ekin = 6.590eV (T=548.233K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.142eV  Ekin = 7.011eV (T=583.227K) Etot = 55.153eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.153eV  Ekin = 7.002eV (T=582.501K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.088eV  Ekin = 7.070eV (T=588.152K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.013eV  Ekin = 7.142eV (T=594.130K) Etot = 55.155eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.110eV  Ekin = 7.051eV (T=586.584K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.931eV  Ekin = 7.226eV (T=601.087K) Etot = 55.157eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.763eV  Ekin = 6.396eV (T=532.039K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.645eV  Ekin = 6.518eV (T=542.241K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.027eV  Ekin = 8.125eV (T=675.893K) Etot = 55.152eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.891eV  Ekin = 7.263eV (T=604.171K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.331eV  Ekin = 6.828eV (T=567.989K) Etot = 55.159eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.808eV  Ekin = 7.354eV (T=611.737K) Etot = 55.162eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.052eV  Ekin = 7.104eV (T=590.961K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.605eV  Ekin = 7.549eV (T=627.967K) Etot = 55.154eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.202eV  Ekin = 6.962eV (T=579.110K) Etot = 55.163eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.930eV  Ekin = 7.228eV (T=601.305K) Etot = 55.158eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.492eV  Ekin = 6.667eV (T=554.638K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.307eV  Ekin = 6.854eV (T=570.196K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.296eV  Ekin = 6.865eV (T=571.100K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.192eV  Ekin = 6.968eV (T=579.648K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.040eV  Ekin = 7.116eV (T=591.994K) Etot = 55.156eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.251eV  Ekin = 6.909eV (T=574.729K) Etot = 55.160eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.112eV  Ekin = 7.049eV (T=586.373K) Etot = 55.161eV
Energy per atom: Epot =47.839eV  Ekin = 7.322eV (T=609.118K) Etot = 55.162eV

After running the simulation, use Graphical user interface (GUI) to compare the resulting trajectory with how it looks if you comment out either the line that says Stationary(atoms), ZeroRotation(atoms) or both:

ase gui nanoparticleCu_NVE.traj

Try playing the movie with a high frame rate and set frame skipping to a low number. Can you spot the subtle difference?

Gallery generated by Sphinx-Gallery