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
running a NVE simulation of fcc Cu
Energy per atom: Epot =-22.726eV  Ekin = 154.735eV (T=299.270K) Etot = 132.009eV
Energy per atom: Epot =97.116eV  Ekin = 35.682eV (T=69.013K) Etot = 132.799eV
Energy per atom: Epot =58.092eV  Ekin = 74.565eV (T=144.215K) Etot = 132.657eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.717eV  Ekin = 82.796eV (T=160.134K) Etot = 132.512eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.224eV  Ekin = 83.234eV (T=160.982K) Etot = 132.458eV
Energy per atom: Epot =59.520eV  Ekin = 73.092eV (T=141.366K) Etot = 132.612eV
Energy per atom: Epot =58.423eV  Ekin = 74.190eV (T=143.490K) Etot = 132.613eV
Energy per atom: Epot =52.388eV  Ekin = 80.125eV (T=154.969K) Etot = 132.513eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.639eV  Ekin = 80.882eV (T=156.433K) Etot = 132.521eV
Energy per atom: Epot =59.018eV  Ekin = 73.584eV (T=142.318K) Etot = 132.602eV
Energy per atom: Epot =54.708eV  Ekin = 77.851eV (T=150.570K) Etot = 132.559eV
Energy per atom: Epot =53.818eV  Ekin = 78.720eV (T=152.251K) Etot = 132.538eV
Energy per atom: Epot =55.395eV  Ekin = 77.167eV (T=149.248K) Etot = 132.563eV
Energy per atom: Epot =56.226eV  Ekin = 76.340eV (T=147.648K) Etot = 132.565eV
Energy per atom: Epot =53.901eV  Ekin = 78.647eV (T=152.109K) Etot = 132.548eV
Energy per atom: Epot =54.480eV  Ekin = 78.084eV (T=151.021K) Etot = 132.564eV
Energy per atom: Epot =54.155eV  Ekin = 78.398eV (T=151.629K) Etot = 132.553eV
Energy per atom: Epot =58.343eV  Ekin = 74.225eV (T=143.558K) Etot = 132.568eV
Energy per atom: Epot =53.124eV  Ekin = 79.425eV (T=153.615K) Etot = 132.549eV
Energy per atom: Epot =53.178eV  Ekin = 79.362eV (T=153.494K) Etot = 132.541eV
Energy per atom: Epot =59.192eV  Ekin = 73.385eV (T=141.933K) Etot = 132.577eV

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
/build/python-ase-iXAd1o/python-ase-3.28.0/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 =524.308eV  Ekin = 0.000eV (T=0.000K) Etot = 524.308eV
Energy per atom: Epot =583.831eV  Ekin = 83.126eV (T=160.773K) Etot = 666.957eV
Energy per atom: Epot =655.913eV  Ekin = 139.146eV (T=269.121K) Etot = 795.060eV
Energy per atom: Epot =709.843eV  Ekin = 203.074eV (T=392.762K) Etot = 912.917eV
Energy per atom: Epot =765.844eV  Ekin = 251.635eV (T=486.683K) Etot = 1017.479eV
Energy per atom: Epot =815.815eV  Ekin = 304.454eV (T=588.840K) Etot = 1120.269eV
Energy per atom: Epot =868.858eV  Ekin = 344.221eV (T=665.754K) Etot = 1213.079eV
Energy per atom: Epot =911.849eV  Ekin = 383.358eV (T=741.448K) Etot = 1295.207eV
Energy per atom: Epot =948.326eV  Ekin = 419.637eV (T=811.615K) Etot = 1367.964eV
Energy per atom: Epot =994.381eV  Ekin = 447.941eV (T=866.357K) Etot = 1442.322eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1038.986eV  Ekin = 462.646eV (T=894.797K) Etot = 1501.632eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1059.946eV  Ekin = 496.696eV (T=960.653K) Etot = 1556.642eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1085.524eV  Ekin = 522.719eV (T=1010.984K) Etot = 1608.243eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1131.302eV  Ekin = 526.530eV (T=1018.354K) Etot = 1657.832eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1160.231eV  Ekin = 543.356eV (T=1050.898K) Etot = 1703.588eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1195.355eV  Ekin = 549.810eV (T=1063.380K) Etot = 1745.165eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1209.893eV  Ekin = 585.485eV (T=1132.378K) Etot = 1795.377eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1244.645eV  Ekin = 590.263eV (T=1141.620K) Etot = 1834.908eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1266.446eV  Ekin = 599.480eV (T=1159.446K) Etot = 1865.926eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1305.678eV  Ekin = 586.006eV (T=1133.386K) Etot = 1891.684eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1300.437eV  Ekin = 619.944eV (T=1199.026K) Etot = 1920.381eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1323.756eV  Ekin = 627.396eV (T=1213.439K) Etot = 1951.152eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1368.640eV  Ekin = 618.995eV (T=1197.189K) Etot = 1987.634eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1372.696eV  Ekin = 639.238eV (T=1236.341K) Etot = 2011.933eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1389.899eV  Ekin = 653.819eV (T=1264.544K) Etot = 2043.718eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1411.765eV  Ekin = 654.450eV (T=1265.763K) Etot = 2066.215eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1419.535eV  Ekin = 664.751eV (T=1285.686K) Etot = 2084.286eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1431.228eV  Ekin = 669.973eV (T=1295.786K) Etot = 2101.201eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1446.585eV  Ekin = 676.204eV (T=1307.837K) Etot = 2122.789eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1468.491eV  Ekin = 664.280eV (T=1284.775K) Etot = 2132.771eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1475.573eV  Ekin = 676.883eV (T=1309.151K) Etot = 2152.456eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1493.922eV  Ekin = 679.556eV (T=1314.321K) Etot = 2173.478eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1502.443eV  Ekin = 676.967eV (T=1309.314K) Etot = 2179.411eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1522.361eV  Ekin = 680.687eV (T=1316.508K) Etot = 2203.048eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1517.798eV  Ekin = 701.809eV (T=1357.359K) Etot = 2219.607eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1537.932eV  Ekin = 697.804eV (T=1349.613K) Etot = 2235.736eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1550.851eV  Ekin = 700.000eV (T=1353.861K) Etot = 2250.851eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1558.387eV  Ekin = 703.932eV (T=1361.465K) Etot = 2262.318eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1565.601eV  Ekin = 702.904eV (T=1359.477K) Etot = 2268.504eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1576.251eV  Ekin = 696.574eV (T=1347.235K) Etot = 2272.825eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1583.663eV  Ekin = 703.167eV (T=1359.986K) Etot = 2286.830eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1597.352eV  Ekin = 705.419eV (T=1364.341K) Etot = 2302.771eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1618.554eV  Ekin = 704.160eV (T=1361.907K) Etot = 2322.714eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1621.288eV  Ekin = 715.254eV (T=1383.364K) Etot = 2336.543eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1633.529eV  Ekin = 717.968eV (T=1388.613K) Etot = 2351.497eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1642.149eV  Ekin = 720.743eV (T=1393.979K) Etot = 2362.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1634.937eV  Ekin = 740.914eV (T=1432.992K) Etot = 2375.851eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1640.830eV  Ekin = 728.875eV (T=1409.707K) Etot = 2369.705eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1646.536eV  Ekin = 736.102eV (T=1423.686K) Etot = 2382.638eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1656.319eV  Ekin = 738.978eV (T=1429.247K) Etot = 2395.296eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1671.672eV  Ekin = 731.872eV (T=1415.504K) Etot = 2403.544eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1676.989eV  Ekin = 746.044eV (T=1442.914K) Etot = 2423.033eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1680.764eV  Ekin = 746.430eV (T=1443.661K) Etot = 2427.194eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1690.062eV  Ekin = 738.169eV (T=1427.684K) Etot = 2428.232eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1691.026eV  Ekin = 753.179eV (T=1456.713K) Etot = 2444.204eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1710.270eV  Ekin = 735.005eV (T=1421.563K) Etot = 2445.275eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1708.370eV  Ekin = 747.184eV (T=1445.120K) Etot = 2455.554eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1721.619eV  Ekin = 731.115eV (T=1414.040K) Etot = 2452.734eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1731.635eV  Ekin = 726.739eV (T=1405.577K) Etot = 2458.374eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1742.322eV  Ekin = 725.316eV (T=1402.824K) Etot = 2467.638eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1743.457eV  Ekin = 745.614eV (T=1442.081K) Etot = 2489.071eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1752.894eV  Ekin = 746.069eV (T=1442.963K) Etot = 2498.963eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1776.179eV  Ekin = 728.269eV (T=1408.535K) Etot = 2504.448eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1777.562eV  Ekin = 740.310eV (T=1431.823K) Etot = 2517.871eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1795.843eV  Ekin = 732.955eV (T=1417.599K) Etot = 2528.798eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1797.125eV  Ekin = 745.230eV (T=1441.339K) Etot = 2542.355eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1806.583eV  Ekin = 744.067eV (T=1439.090K) Etot = 2550.650eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1813.774eV  Ekin = 740.621eV (T=1432.426K) Etot = 2554.395eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1822.430eV  Ekin = 738.993eV (T=1429.277K) Etot = 2561.423eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1830.856eV  Ekin = 734.329eV (T=1420.256K) Etot = 2565.185eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1815.263eV  Ekin = 755.709eV (T=1461.606K) Etot = 2570.972eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1826.088eV  Ekin = 748.511eV (T=1447.686K) Etot = 2574.599eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1834.275eV  Ekin = 751.724eV (T=1453.900K) Etot = 2585.999eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1832.771eV  Ekin = 768.375eV (T=1486.104K) Etot = 2601.147eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1852.780eV  Ekin = 756.516eV (T=1463.167K) Etot = 2609.295eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1851.403eV  Ekin = 745.881eV (T=1442.599K) Etot = 2597.284eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1843.426eV  Ekin = 753.699eV (T=1457.719K) Etot = 2597.125eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1848.740eV  Ekin = 749.779eV (T=1450.138K) Etot = 2598.519eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1847.237eV  Ekin = 761.405eV (T=1472.623K) Etot = 2608.642eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1855.542eV  Ekin = 754.391eV (T=1459.058K) Etot = 2609.934eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1866.641eV  Ekin = 744.718eV (T=1440.350K) Etot = 2611.359eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1863.151eV  Ekin = 746.420eV (T=1443.641K) Etot = 2609.570eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1859.110eV  Ekin = 757.494eV (T=1465.060K) Etot = 2616.604eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1866.110eV  Ekin = 740.873eV (T=1432.914K) Etot = 2606.983eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1855.404eV  Ekin = 749.264eV (T=1449.142K) Etot = 2604.668eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1879.670eV  Ekin = 737.672eV (T=1426.722K) Etot = 2617.342eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1864.292eV  Ekin = 749.510eV (T=1449.617K) Etot = 2613.802eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1868.562eV  Ekin = 745.260eV (T=1441.398K) Etot = 2613.822eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1872.910eV  Ekin = 737.522eV (T=1426.432K) Etot = 2610.433eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1876.806eV  Ekin = 744.791eV (T=1440.491K) Etot = 2621.597eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1880.542eV  Ekin = 748.020eV (T=1446.736K) Etot = 2628.562eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1882.903eV  Ekin = 743.511eV (T=1438.014K) Etot = 2626.413eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1886.989eV  Ekin = 752.870eV (T=1456.116K) Etot = 2639.859eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1899.033eV  Ekin = 733.070eV (T=1417.821K) Etot = 2632.102eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1895.819eV  Ekin = 747.467eV (T=1445.666K) Etot = 2643.285eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1901.266eV  Ekin = 739.184eV (T=1429.646K) Etot = 2640.450eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1891.517eV  Ekin = 740.516eV (T=1432.222K) Etot = 2632.033eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1891.438eV  Ekin = 754.113eV (T=1458.519K) Etot = 2645.550eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1909.637eV  Ekin = 738.467eV (T=1428.260K) Etot = 2648.104eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1902.465eV  Ekin = 754.758eV (T=1459.767K) Etot = 2657.222eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1903.818eV  Ekin = 762.659eV (T=1475.049K) Etot = 2666.477eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1924.411eV  Ekin = 743.738eV (T=1438.453K) Etot = 2668.149eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1908.331eV  Ekin = 751.115eV (T=1452.721K) Etot = 2659.445eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1911.931eV  Ekin = 751.685eV (T=1453.824K) Etot = 2663.616eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1917.107eV  Ekin = 752.634eV (T=1455.659K) Etot = 2669.740eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1923.693eV  Ekin = 754.316eV (T=1458.912K) Etot = 2678.009eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1928.459eV  Ekin = 760.770eV (T=1471.396K) Etot = 2689.229eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1935.562eV  Ekin = 758.765eV (T=1467.518K) Etot = 2694.327eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1927.115eV  Ekin = 767.791eV (T=1484.975K) Etot = 2694.906eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1924.319eV  Ekin = 770.806eV (T=1490.806K) Etot = 2695.125eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1942.100eV  Ekin = 749.193eV (T=1449.004K) Etot = 2691.292eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1950.168eV  Ekin = 748.199eV (T=1447.082K) Etot = 2698.367eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1936.817eV  Ekin = 779.411eV (T=1507.448K) Etot = 2716.228eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1946.643eV  Ekin = 769.352eV (T=1487.993K) Etot = 2715.995eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1944.567eV  Ekin = 778.263eV (T=1505.229K) Etot = 2722.831eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1952.321eV  Ekin = 772.742eV (T=1494.550K) Etot = 2725.063eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1946.029eV  Ekin = 773.217eV (T=1495.469K) Etot = 2719.246eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1952.292eV  Ekin = 771.946eV (T=1493.011K) Etot = 2724.238eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1948.736eV  Ekin = 775.795eV (T=1500.456K) Etot = 2724.531eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1948.492eV  Ekin = 767.421eV (T=1484.260K) Etot = 2715.913eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1952.355eV  Ekin = 767.711eV (T=1484.820K) Etot = 2720.066eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1949.245eV  Ekin = 774.964eV (T=1498.847K) Etot = 2724.209eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1956.562eV  Ekin = 767.216eV (T=1483.863K) Etot = 2723.778eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1947.675eV  Ekin = 774.126eV (T=1497.226K) Etot = 2721.800eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1951.398eV  Ekin = 761.147eV (T=1472.124K) Etot = 2712.545eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1953.175eV  Ekin = 758.745eV (T=1467.479K) Etot = 2711.920eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1941.606eV  Ekin = 778.034eV (T=1504.786K) Etot = 2719.640eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1953.607eV  Ekin = 760.927eV (T=1471.700K) Etot = 2714.535eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1959.499eV  Ekin = 754.473eV (T=1459.216K) Etot = 2713.972eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1960.586eV  Ekin = 750.187eV (T=1450.927K) Etot = 2710.773eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1942.229eV  Ekin = 786.026eV (T=1520.242K) Etot = 2728.255eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1970.746eV  Ekin = 756.311eV (T=1462.772K) Etot = 2727.057eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1950.458eV  Ekin = 778.469eV (T=1505.627K) Etot = 2728.927eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1968.119eV  Ekin = 757.873eV (T=1465.793K) Etot = 2725.993eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1957.832eV  Ekin = 768.485eV (T=1486.317K) Etot = 2726.317eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1968.391eV  Ekin = 765.097eV (T=1479.763K) Etot = 2733.488eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1968.308eV  Ekin = 776.148eV (T=1501.137K) Etot = 2744.456eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1957.569eV  Ekin = 773.739eV (T=1496.478K) Etot = 2731.308eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1949.430eV  Ekin = 773.284eV (T=1495.599K) Etot = 2722.714eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1942.908eV  Ekin = 774.907eV (T=1498.738K) Etot = 2717.815eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1960.045eV  Ekin = 763.887eV (T=1477.424K) Etot = 2723.932eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1963.270eV  Ekin = 762.636eV (T=1475.005K) Etot = 2725.907eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1957.068eV  Ekin = 768.673eV (T=1486.681K) Etot = 2725.741eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1962.697eV  Ekin = 760.692eV (T=1471.245K) Etot = 2723.390eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1965.579eV  Ekin = 770.905eV (T=1490.997K) Etot = 2736.484eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1957.724eV  Ekin = 778.707eV (T=1506.088K) Etot = 2736.431eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1963.811eV  Ekin = 778.493eV (T=1505.674K) Etot = 2742.304eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1966.816eV  Ekin = 774.432eV (T=1497.819K) Etot = 2741.248eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1967.656eV  Ekin = 773.335eV (T=1495.698K) Etot = 2740.991eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1971.635eV  Ekin = 771.368eV (T=1491.893K) Etot = 2743.004eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1963.662eV  Ekin = 767.538eV (T=1484.485K) Etot = 2731.200eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1956.001eV  Ekin = 781.821eV (T=1512.109K) Etot = 2737.822eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1969.901eV  Ekin = 773.544eV (T=1496.101K) Etot = 2743.445eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1986.557eV  Ekin = 766.756eV (T=1482.973K) Etot = 2753.313eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1985.282eV  Ekin = 779.628eV (T=1507.868K) Etot = 2764.910eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1990.194eV  Ekin = 763.462eV (T=1476.601K) Etot = 2753.656eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1985.309eV  Ekin = 768.807eV (T=1486.940K) Etot = 2754.117eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1974.901eV  Ekin = 768.599eV (T=1486.537K) Etot = 2743.500eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1973.865eV  Ekin = 767.412eV (T=1484.241K) Etot = 2741.276eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1977.862eV  Ekin = 755.229eV (T=1460.678K) Etot = 2733.091eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1964.412eV  Ekin = 775.678eV (T=1500.229K) Etot = 2740.090eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1971.545eV  Ekin = 767.063eV (T=1483.566K) Etot = 2738.608eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1968.264eV  Ekin = 773.580eV (T=1496.170K) Etot = 2741.844eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1978.637eV  Ekin = 766.040eV (T=1481.588K) Etot = 2744.677eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1955.480eV  Ekin = 781.258eV (T=1511.020K) Etot = 2736.737eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1977.343eV  Ekin = 761.934eV (T=1473.646K) Etot = 2739.277eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1965.834eV  Ekin = 764.212eV (T=1478.053K) Etot = 2730.046eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1967.297eV  Ekin = 763.984eV (T=1477.611K) Etot = 2731.281eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1968.592eV  Ekin = 766.970eV (T=1483.387K) Etot = 2735.562eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1955.033eV  Ekin = 783.829eV (T=1515.994K) Etot = 2738.862eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1960.288eV  Ekin = 773.493eV (T=1496.002K) Etot = 2733.781eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1958.800eV  Ekin = 763.996eV (T=1477.634K) Etot = 2722.795eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1932.372eV  Ekin = 789.159eV (T=1526.302K) Etot = 2721.531eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1948.731eV  Ekin = 775.585eV (T=1500.049K) Etot = 2724.316eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1949.784eV  Ekin = 773.829eV (T=1496.653K) Etot = 2723.613eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1949.861eV  Ekin = 758.258eV (T=1466.537K) Etot = 2708.119eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1944.261eV  Ekin = 762.751eV (T=1475.226K) Etot = 2707.011eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1950.473eV  Ekin = 759.564eV (T=1469.064K) Etot = 2710.038eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1951.962eV  Ekin = 761.121eV (T=1472.073K) Etot = 2713.083eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1932.696eV  Ekin = 776.351eV (T=1501.531K) Etot = 2709.048eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1944.883eV  Ekin = 765.847eV (T=1481.215K) Etot = 2710.730eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1930.606eV  Ekin = 780.190eV (T=1508.956K) Etot = 2710.796eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1944.083eV  Ekin = 763.224eV (T=1476.142K) Etot = 2707.307eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1942.095eV  Ekin = 769.954eV (T=1489.158K) Etot = 2712.049eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1937.518eV  Ekin = 768.525eV (T=1486.394K) Etot = 2706.043eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1936.308eV  Ekin = 760.487eV (T=1470.847K) Etot = 2696.794eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1929.387eV  Ekin = 779.354eV (T=1507.339K) Etot = 2708.741eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1940.367eV  Ekin = 773.771eV (T=1496.540K) Etot = 2714.138eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1946.645eV  Ekin = 770.109eV (T=1489.458K) Etot = 2716.754eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1946.158eV  Ekin = 762.698eV (T=1475.124K) Etot = 2708.856eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1954.406eV  Ekin = 767.305eV (T=1484.034K) Etot = 2721.710eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1955.124eV  Ekin = 768.420eV (T=1486.192K) Etot = 2723.545eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1953.078eV  Ekin = 772.364eV (T=1493.820K) Etot = 2725.442eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1956.012eV  Ekin = 767.607eV (T=1484.619K) Etot = 2723.619eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1953.705eV  Ekin = 769.642eV (T=1488.554K) Etot = 2723.346eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1948.892eV  Ekin = 764.216eV (T=1478.060K) Etot = 2713.108eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1943.752eV  Ekin = 762.823eV (T=1475.367K) Etot = 2706.575eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1944.054eV  Ekin = 770.364eV (T=1489.951K) Etot = 2714.417eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1949.179eV  Ekin = 769.134eV (T=1487.571K) Etot = 2718.312eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1950.936eV  Ekin = 761.103eV (T=1472.039K) Etot = 2712.039eV
Energy per atom: Epot =1949.228eV  Ekin = 760.952eV (T=1471.747K) Etot = 2710.180eV

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] 09:41:06       43.245239       1.0870
BFGSLineSearch:    1[  1] 09:41:06       42.120661       0.2296
BFGSLineSearch:    2[  2] 09:41:06       41.867789       0.1409
BFGSLineSearch:    3[  3] 09:41:06       41.713030       0.1175
BFGSLineSearch:    4[  4] 09:41:06       41.671285       0.0689
BFGSLineSearch:    5[  5] 09:41:07       41.661506       0.0228
BFGSLineSearch:    6[  6] 09:41:07       41.661063       0.0064
BFGSLineSearch:    7[  7] 09:41:07       41.661007       0.0025
BFGSLineSearch:    8[  8] 09:41:07       41.660988       0.0021
BFGSLineSearch:    9[  9] 09:41:07       41.660979       0.0011
BFGSLineSearch:   10[ 10] 09:41:07       41.660978       0.0004
running a NVE simulation of a Cu nanoparticle
Energy per atom: Epot =41.661eV  Ekin = 16.174eV (T=1345.477K) Etot = 57.835eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.449eV  Ekin = 7.433eV (T=618.367K) Etot = 57.882eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.315eV  Ekin = 6.585eV (T=547.817K) Etot = 57.900eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.347eV  Ekin = 6.544eV (T=544.378K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.607eV  Ekin = 7.280eV (T=605.633K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.135eV  Ekin = 7.752eV (T=644.830K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.863eV  Ekin = 8.023eV (T=667.427K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.957eV  Ekin = 7.930eV (T=659.640K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.866eV  Ekin = 8.024eV (T=667.475K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.903eV  Ekin = 6.988eV (T=581.310K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.080eV  Ekin = 6.810eV (T=566.497K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.835eV  Ekin = 8.051eV (T=669.744K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.396eV  Ekin = 7.494eV (T=623.380K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.414eV  Ekin = 8.472eV (T=704.717K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.587eV  Ekin = 8.297eV (T=690.235K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.575eV  Ekin = 7.319eV (T=608.804K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.134eV  Ekin = 6.759eV (T=562.234K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.820eV  Ekin = 7.068eV (T=587.997K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.421eV  Ekin = 7.470eV (T=621.419K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.693eV  Ekin = 7.194eV (T=598.485K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.716eV  Ekin = 8.169eV (T=679.543K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.313eV  Ekin = 7.579eV (T=630.461K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.996eV  Ekin = 6.902eV (T=574.148K) Etot = 57.898eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.623eV  Ekin = 7.266eV (T=604.410K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.775eV  Ekin = 7.111eV (T=591.526K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.413eV  Ekin = 7.474eV (T=621.732K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.755eV  Ekin = 7.131eV (T=593.232K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.131eV  Ekin = 7.754eV (T=644.987K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.055eV  Ekin = 7.831eV (T=651.422K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.449eV  Ekin = 7.443eV (T=619.187K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.090eV  Ekin = 6.804eV (T=565.980K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.434eV  Ekin = 7.456eV (T=620.210K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.804eV  Ekin = 7.090eV (T=589.768K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.890eV  Ekin = 7.997eV (T=665.246K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.431eV  Ekin = 6.462eV (T=537.578K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.133eV  Ekin = 7.755eV (T=645.115K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.842eV  Ekin = 7.050eV (T=586.436K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.913eV  Ekin = 7.972eV (T=663.188K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.160eV  Ekin = 6.733eV (T=560.090K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.481eV  Ekin = 6.413eV (T=533.505K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.638eV  Ekin = 7.250eV (T=603.124K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.466eV  Ekin = 7.421eV (T=617.335K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.082eV  Ekin = 6.816eV (T=566.971K) Etot = 57.898eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.328eV  Ekin = 7.562eV (T=629.047K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.209eV  Ekin = 7.684eV (T=639.173K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.198eV  Ekin = 7.692eV (T=639.834K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.324eV  Ekin = 7.557eV (T=628.618K) Etot = 57.880eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.835eV  Ekin = 7.050eV (T=586.489K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.702eV  Ekin = 7.187eV (T=597.829K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.708eV  Ekin = 7.184eV (T=597.583K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.151eV  Ekin = 6.739eV (T=560.582K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.138eV  Ekin = 6.757eV (T=562.128K) Etot = 57.895eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.639eV  Ekin = 7.252eV (T=603.265K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.581eV  Ekin = 7.304eV (T=607.566K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.443eV  Ekin = 7.444eV (T=619.211K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.742eV  Ekin = 7.149eV (T=594.678K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.128eV  Ekin = 6.764eV (T=562.669K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.102eV  Ekin = 6.796eV (T=565.373K) Etot = 57.899eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.681eV  Ekin = 8.208eV (T=682.818K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.540eV  Ekin = 7.349eV (T=611.364K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.703eV  Ekin = 8.182eV (T=680.670K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.565eV  Ekin = 7.325eV (T=609.311K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.897eV  Ekin = 6.990eV (T=581.456K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.846eV  Ekin = 8.034eV (T=668.328K) Etot = 57.880eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.471eV  Ekin = 7.415eV (T=616.809K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.164eV  Ekin = 6.732eV (T=559.986K) Etot = 57.896eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.413eV  Ekin = 7.480eV (T=622.208K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.470eV  Ekin = 7.422eV (T=617.436K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.220eV  Ekin = 7.673eV (T=638.311K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.555eV  Ekin = 7.337eV (T=610.368K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.905eV  Ekin = 6.989eV (T=581.392K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.529eV  Ekin = 7.361eV (T=612.309K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.202eV  Ekin = 7.686eV (T=639.334K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.425eV  Ekin = 7.462eV (T=620.712K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.524eV  Ekin = 7.365eV (T=612.706K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.345eV  Ekin = 6.552eV (T=545.008K) Etot = 57.897eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.949eV  Ekin = 5.951eV (T=495.039K) Etot = 57.900eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.555eV  Ekin = 7.334eV (T=610.125K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.034eV  Ekin = 7.847eV (T=652.761K) Etot = 57.881eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.056eV  Ekin = 6.829eV (T=568.062K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.031eV  Ekin = 6.859eV (T=570.567K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.726eV  Ekin = 6.174eV (T=513.552K) Etot = 57.900eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.866eV  Ekin = 7.027eV (T=584.526K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.417eV  Ekin = 7.475eV (T=621.833K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.654eV  Ekin = 7.236eV (T=601.916K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.923eV  Ekin = 7.959eV (T=662.082K) Etot = 57.882eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.553eV  Ekin = 7.336eV (T=610.237K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.105eV  Ekin = 7.785eV (T=647.584K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.453eV  Ekin = 7.441eV (T=618.981K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.217eV  Ekin = 6.681eV (T=555.801K) Etot = 57.899eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.276eV  Ekin = 7.614eV (T=633.424K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.876eV  Ekin = 8.014eV (T=666.627K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.286eV  Ekin = 7.607eV (T=632.778K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.150eV  Ekin = 7.743eV (T=644.132K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.724eV  Ekin = 7.165eV (T=596.013K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.439eV  Ekin = 7.452eV (T=619.920K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.651eV  Ekin = 7.240eV (T=602.245K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.498eV  Ekin = 8.386eV (T=697.641K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.074eV  Ekin = 6.823eV (T=567.554K) Etot = 57.897eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.406eV  Ekin = 7.482eV (T=622.440K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.947eV  Ekin = 7.934eV (T=660.037K) Etot = 57.881eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.031eV  Ekin = 6.860eV (T=570.629K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.990eV  Ekin = 6.910eV (T=574.799K) Etot = 57.900eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.833eV  Ekin = 8.056eV (T=670.158K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.025eV  Ekin = 6.868eV (T=571.339K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.245eV  Ekin = 7.646eV (T=636.038K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.690eV  Ekin = 7.205eV (T=599.355K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.390eV  Ekin = 7.504eV (T=624.272K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.452eV  Ekin = 8.433eV (T=701.493K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.613eV  Ekin = 7.279eV (T=605.534K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.803eV  Ekin = 8.080eV (T=672.183K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.167eV  Ekin = 7.717eV (T=641.980K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.094eV  Ekin = 7.790eV (T=648.029K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.281eV  Ekin = 8.607eV (T=715.946K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.867eV  Ekin = 8.024eV (T=667.502K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.456eV  Ekin = 8.427eV (T=701.038K) Etot = 57.883eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.837eV  Ekin = 7.052eV (T=586.666K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.788eV  Ekin = 7.101eV (T=590.699K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.305eV  Ekin = 6.592eV (T=548.378K) Etot = 57.897eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.076eV  Ekin = 7.813eV (T=649.950K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.877eV  Ekin = 7.013eV (T=583.392K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.975eV  Ekin = 7.913eV (T=658.229K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.238eV  Ekin = 8.649eV (T=719.451K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.904eV  Ekin = 7.988eV (T=664.461K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.381eV  Ekin = 7.517eV (T=625.292K) Etot = 57.898eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.840eV  Ekin = 8.050eV (T=669.624K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.632eV  Ekin = 7.259eV (T=603.887K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.389eV  Ekin = 8.498eV (T=706.929K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.937eV  Ekin = 6.959eV (T=578.929K) Etot = 57.897eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.221eV  Ekin = 7.665eV (T=637.610K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.166eV  Ekin = 7.719eV (T=642.154K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.283eV  Ekin = 7.605eV (T=632.675K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.045eV  Ekin = 6.842eV (T=569.162K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.449eV  Ekin = 7.436eV (T=618.590K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.118eV  Ekin = 7.772eV (T=646.538K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.514eV  Ekin = 8.377eV (T=696.894K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.965eV  Ekin = 7.929eV (T=659.600K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.859eV  Ekin = 8.034eV (T=668.352K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.554eV  Ekin = 8.335eV (T=693.329K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.102eV  Ekin = 7.792eV (T=648.154K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.733eV  Ekin = 8.162eV (T=678.984K) Etot = 57.896eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.356eV  Ekin = 7.541eV (T=627.295K) Etot = 57.896eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.028eV  Ekin = 7.867eV (T=654.391K) Etot = 57.895eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.380eV  Ekin = 7.511eV (T=624.830K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.246eV  Ekin = 7.641eV (T=635.615K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.367eV  Ekin = 8.515eV (T=708.302K) Etot = 57.881eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.688eV  Ekin = 8.199eV (T=682.041K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.462eV  Ekin = 8.421eV (T=700.480K) Etot = 57.882eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.983eV  Ekin = 7.903eV (T=657.383K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.049eV  Ekin = 7.838eV (T=651.981K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.943eV  Ekin = 7.945eV (T=660.887K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.500eV  Ekin = 6.403eV (T=532.616K) Etot = 57.902eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.346eV  Ekin = 7.545eV (T=627.607K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.041eV  Ekin = 8.838eV (T=735.239K) Etot = 57.879eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.259eV  Ekin = 7.628eV (T=634.519K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =51.096eV  Ekin = 6.799eV (T=565.559K) Etot = 57.895eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.058eV  Ekin = 8.823eV (T=733.958K) Etot = 57.882eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.444eV  Ekin = 8.443eV (T=702.378K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.591eV  Ekin = 7.300eV (T=607.262K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.968eV  Ekin = 7.919eV (T=658.773K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.786eV  Ekin = 7.110eV (T=591.476K) Etot = 57.897eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.008eV  Ekin = 7.879eV (T=655.407K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.375eV  Ekin = 7.507eV (T=624.515K) Etot = 57.882eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.662eV  Ekin = 7.230eV (T=601.452K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.887eV  Ekin = 8.009eV (T=666.251K) Etot = 57.896eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.617eV  Ekin = 8.273eV (T=688.177K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.558eV  Ekin = 7.326eV (T=609.438K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.258eV  Ekin = 7.626eV (T=634.394K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.322eV  Ekin = 7.570eV (T=629.741K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.402eV  Ekin = 7.492eV (T=623.194K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.629eV  Ekin = 8.258eV (T=686.928K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.570eV  Ekin = 8.320eV (T=692.090K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.755eV  Ekin = 8.134eV (T=676.665K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.369eV  Ekin = 7.525eV (T=625.963K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.654eV  Ekin = 8.235eV (T=685.077K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.249eV  Ekin = 8.638eV (T=718.537K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.348eV  Ekin = 8.544eV (T=710.719K) Etot = 57.891eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.642eV  Ekin = 8.247eV (T=686.057K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.130eV  Ekin = 8.754eV (T=728.218K) Etot = 57.884eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.508eV  Ekin = 7.388eV (T=614.578K) Etot = 57.896eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.475eV  Ekin = 8.413eV (T=699.838K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.260eV  Ekin = 7.633eV (T=634.973K) Etot = 57.893eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.703eV  Ekin = 8.189eV (T=681.230K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.813eV  Ekin = 8.074eV (T=671.610K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.362eV  Ekin = 7.527eV (T=626.174K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.923eV  Ekin = 7.966eV (T=662.631K) Etot = 57.889eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.742eV  Ekin = 7.149eV (T=594.735K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.908eV  Ekin = 7.979eV (T=663.765K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.971eV  Ekin = 7.915eV (T=658.434K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.130eV  Ekin = 7.757eV (T=645.260K) Etot = 57.887eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.316eV  Ekin = 8.568eV (T=712.701K) Etot = 57.883eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.095eV  Ekin = 8.791eV (T=731.283K) Etot = 57.886eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.797eV  Ekin = 7.097eV (T=590.414K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.050eV  Ekin = 7.844eV (T=652.536K) Etot = 57.894eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.145eV  Ekin = 7.747eV (T=644.438K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.408eV  Ekin = 8.483eV (T=705.703K) Etot = 57.892eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.097eV  Ekin = 7.793eV (T=648.250K) Etot = 57.890eV
Energy per atom: Epot =48.575eV  Ekin = 9.300eV (T=773.599K) Etot = 57.875eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.932eV  Ekin = 7.952eV (T=661.539K) Etot = 57.885eV
Energy per atom: Epot =50.508eV  Ekin = 7.379eV (T=613.843K) Etot = 57.888eV
Energy per atom: Epot =49.713eV  Ekin = 8.169eV (T=679.517K) Etot = 57.881eV

After running the simulation, use ASE’s 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?

Total running time of the script: (22 minutes 45.278 seconds)

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