Predictions of Crystal Structures from First Principles

Abstract

A recently developed method denoted as SAPT(DFT), which applies symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) based on Kohn-Sham orbitals and orbital energies and includes the dispersion component obtained using frequency-dependent density susceptibilities from density functional theory (DFT), has been shown to provide as accurate interaction energies as high-level wave function-based methods. At the same time, the former calculations can be performed at a greatly reduced computational cost compared to the latter, in fact, in a time comparable to supermolecular DFT calculations. The SAPT(DFT) method is particularly important for systems with a dominant dispersion component since the supermolecular DFT approach fails completely in this case. SAPT(DFT) was used to compute the interaction potential for the RDX dimer. This potential was applied to predictions of the properties of the RDX crystal in molecular dynamics simulations. The fully ab initio calculated properties are in excellent agreement with experiment and the predictions are even slightly better than achieved by empirical potentials fitted to the crystal experimental data.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADP023744

Entities

People

  • Betsy M. Rice
  • Krzysztof Szalewicz
  • RafaƂ Podeszwa
  • Robert Bukowski

Organizations

  • University of Delaware

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Computational Chemistry Methods
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystals
  • Density Functional Theory
  • Department Of Defense
  • Energetic Materials
  • Experimental Data
  • High Performance Computing
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Perturbation Theory
  • Potential Energy
  • Rdx
  • Simulations

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Regression Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space