Interatomic potential LCAO using GGA

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around troubleshooting issues in a homemade code for calculating electronic structure using Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals (LCAO) with Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) and Local Density Approximation (LDA). The specific problem involves discrepancies in the calculated potential minimum for chromium in a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports a discrepancy of 1 Angstrom in the potential minimum for Cr (BCC), suggesting that the expected value is 2.88 Å while their calculation yields 3.6 Å.
  • Another participant questions the original poster's understanding of their own code and suggests that more information is needed to diagnose the issue.
  • A subsequent reply emphasizes the need for detailed information regarding the methods and basis sets used in the calculations, including whether the code can reproduce results for simpler systems.
  • The original poster clarifies that they are using LCAO with a Gaussian basis set and have not yet tested their code on simpler systems.
  • The original poster mentions that they have verified potential values using other software (VASP and Quantum ESPRESSO) and experimental data.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing levels of understanding and expectations regarding the original poster's problem. There is no consensus on the cause of the discrepancy, and multiple viewpoints on how to approach the troubleshooting remain.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for more information about the basis set, methods, and functional used in the calculations, as well as the importance of testing the code against simpler systems to identify potential issues.

starvis
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Can someone tell me where possible cause of the problem ?

I am using home made code where LCAO (using LDA and GGA) implemented for calculation of electronic structure. Calculating structure for Cr (BCC) gives 1 Ang off the potential minimum (3.6 A should be 2.88 A). I checked k point mesh, primitive vectors, core charge (18), and atomic positions. If I calculate for SC I am getting the right potential minimum at 2.88.

Thank you so much for your help in advance.
 
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You have a self-made DFT code and you don't even know where to look for the problem?...
 
Instead of asking this question I would prefer some help. If you are not able to
give reasonable suggestions please do not bother, learn and study more.
 
In order to give some helpful suggestions you need to provide information about your problem. From your problem description it is impossible to see what you are doing, and thus also what you are doing wrong.

In particular, you did not provide information on some *very* obvious questions:
0. What kind of basis set/methods do you use? Plane waves? Plane waves + pseudopotentials? Projector augmented plane waves? Gaussians? Something else? How do you calculate the terms in your DFT (e.g. Coulomb, core repulsion, pseudo-potentials, functional)? Are you sure these terms work?

1. Can you calculate the correct energies/wave functions/lattice constants for simpler systems? E.g., does your calculation work for a H solid or jellium? (This would allow you to exclude problems with the core representation and various basis set issues)

2. Does your program work for Coulomb-only "DFT" (i.e., the zero functional).

3. Do you know what the GGA/LDA result is supposed to be for Cr solid? I.e., did you calculate it with the same functional with a working code, or is the value you expect an experimental number?

In your OP you effectively said: "I have a home made program and it does not do what I expect." What kind of answer do you expect to that?
 
Thank you so much for your constructive reply:

0. I am using LCAO with Gaussian basis set solving KS equations in self consistent manner.

1. I have not calculated it yet, just finished Cr. The terms are calculated using functionals.

2.Have not check it yet, thank you so much I will check it.

3. I have checked the potential using vasp, qespresso and experiment. In vasp and qe i calculated using pseudopotentials.
 

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