Atomic velocities from forces and MgO simulation

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of atomic velocities and forces in a molecular dynamics simulation of magnesium oxide (MgO). Participants explore the implications of their calculations regarding atomic displacements, forces, and potential energy, as well as the validity of their simulation parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a calculation of the peak attractive force between Mg and O atoms as 1.6 eV, questioning the resulting acceleration of approximately 9650000 m/s² and its implications for atomic displacement.
  • The same participant notes that their calculated atomic displacement over a timestep of 0.5 fs seems unreasonably large, suggesting a possible overestimation of acceleration or a misunderstanding of atomic vibrations.
  • Another participant questions the correctness of the force constant used in the coulomb potential, seeking validation of their calculations.
  • A third participant points out unit errors in the initial calculations, clarifying that eV and Joules are units of energy, not force, and that nm/fs is a velocity rather than an acceleration.
  • The initial poster acknowledges the unit errors and expresses that they believe they have a working model after the corrections.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there were unit errors in the initial calculations, but multiple competing views remain regarding the validity of the force constant and the implications of the calculated atomic velocities and displacements.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unresolved assumptions about the accuracy of the potential model, the appropriateness of the timestep used in the simulation, and the implications of the calculated values on the physical behavior of the system.

Hypatio
Messages
147
Reaction score
1
I've attached a graph of the pair potential between Mg and O. The peak attractive force experienced between the atoms is 1.6 eV, or 10^-19 Joules. From F=ma, with an O mass of 2.66*10^-26 kg the acceleration experienced by the atom is about 9650000 m/s^2, or 9.65 nm/fs (nanometers per femtosecond).

Is this right?

I know that molecular dynamics simulations of MgO are able to be performed with timesteps on the order of 0.5 fs, but from my calculations the atom may displace by on the order of 5 nm for this time, more than 10 unit cells for MgO. This either means that I have overestimated the acceleration by 1-2 orders of magnitude, or that atomic displacements from vibrations and such occur over less than 0.1 nm.

Also, I am testing an MgO simulation. I've attached an animation of atomic vibrations which occur in a 20x20 lattice due to the momentum of a contraction from an initial "equilibrium" position (black dots)--the displacement occurs because of long range coulombic forces bending the lattice from an ideal spacing. Each frame is a timestep of 0.1 fs, and I've had to use 0.01 fs as the model timestep. Absolute and relative atomic velocities are on the order of 100-900 km/s, which seems high to me.

I feel like I am doing something wrong.

[edit] Sorry, apparently my animated gif is too big (800kb) or are not allowed.

[edit 2] The pair potential, including coulombic potential, is: 926.69*EXP(-r/0.3)+k*(1*-1)/r

where k=10*(2.31*10^-19)/(1.602*10^-19)=14.417888
or k=299792458^2*10^-7*(1.60217646*10^-19)*10^10=14.417888

and r is in Angstroms.
 

Attachments

  • potentials.jpg
    potentials.jpg
    16.6 KB · Views: 520
  • MgO.jpg
    MgO.jpg
    17.9 KB · Views: 539
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Maybe my coulomb potential is much too large? Is my force constant correct?

k=10*(2.31*10^-19)/(1.602*10^-19)=14.417888
or k=299792458^2*10^-7*(1.60217646*10^-19)*10^10=14.417888

correct?

The dimensions should be Joules and Angstroms...
 
I think you messed up several units.

The peak attractive force experienced between the atoms is 1.6 eV, or 10^-19 Joules.
eV and Joule are units of energy, not force. Looking at the graph, is it \frac{eV}{\mathring{A}}?

the acceleration experienced by the atom is about 9650000 m/s^2, or 9.65 nm/fs (nanometers per femtosecond).
nm/fs is a velocity, not an acceleration. Expressed in nm/fs^2, the corresponding value is extremely small (10^-14).
 
Thanks, I did mess up the units and I think I now have a working model.
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Replies
4
Views
14K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
11K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K