Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids

Abstract The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism is a powerful tool within statistical mechanics to study the thermodynamic properties of classical low-temperature liquids and glasses. Recently, the PEL formalism has been extended to liquids/glasses that obey quantum mechanics, but applicatio...

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Main Authors: Ali Eltareb, Yang Zhou, Gustavo E. Lopez, Nicolas Giovambattista
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01342-9
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author Ali Eltareb
Yang Zhou
Gustavo E. Lopez
Nicolas Giovambattista
author_facet Ali Eltareb
Yang Zhou
Gustavo E. Lopez
Nicolas Giovambattista
author_sort Ali Eltareb
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism is a powerful tool within statistical mechanics to study the thermodynamic properties of classical low-temperature liquids and glasses. Recently, the PEL formalism has been extended to liquids/glasses that obey quantum mechanics, but applications have been limited to atomistic model liquids. In this work, we extend the PEL formalism to liquid/glassy water using path-integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) simulations, where nuclear quantum effects (NQE) are included. Our PIMD simulations, based on the q-TIP4P/F water model, show that the PEL of quantum water is both Gaussian and anharmonic. Importantly, the ring-polymers associated to the O/H atoms in the PIMD simulations, collapse at the local minima of the PEL (inherent structures, IS) for both liquid and glassy states. This allows us to calculate, analytically, the IS vibrational density of states (IS-VDOS) of the ring-polymer system using the IS-VDOS of classical water (obtained from classical MD simulations). The role of NQE on the structural properties of liquid/glassy water at various pressures are discussed in detail. Overall, our results demonstrate that the PEL formalism can effectively describe the behavior of molecular liquids at low temperatures and in the glass states, regardless of whether the liquid/glass obeys classical or quantum mechanics.
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spelling doaj-art-f7e615e169c84574a2d5a70ac28b32ed2025-08-20T02:20:42ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692024-12-017111310.1038/s42004-024-01342-9Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquidsAli Eltareb0Yang Zhou1Gustavo E. Lopez2Nicolas Giovambattista3Department of Physics, Brooklyn College of the City University of New YorkDepartment of Physics, Brooklyn College of the City University of New YorkDepartment of Chemistry, Lehman College of the City University of New YorkDepartment of Physics, Brooklyn College of the City University of New YorkAbstract The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism is a powerful tool within statistical mechanics to study the thermodynamic properties of classical low-temperature liquids and glasses. Recently, the PEL formalism has been extended to liquids/glasses that obey quantum mechanics, but applications have been limited to atomistic model liquids. In this work, we extend the PEL formalism to liquid/glassy water using path-integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) simulations, where nuclear quantum effects (NQE) are included. Our PIMD simulations, based on the q-TIP4P/F water model, show that the PEL of quantum water is both Gaussian and anharmonic. Importantly, the ring-polymers associated to the O/H atoms in the PIMD simulations, collapse at the local minima of the PEL (inherent structures, IS) for both liquid and glassy states. This allows us to calculate, analytically, the IS vibrational density of states (IS-VDOS) of the ring-polymer system using the IS-VDOS of classical water (obtained from classical MD simulations). The role of NQE on the structural properties of liquid/glassy water at various pressures are discussed in detail. Overall, our results demonstrate that the PEL formalism can effectively describe the behavior of molecular liquids at low temperatures and in the glass states, regardless of whether the liquid/glass obeys classical or quantum mechanics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01342-9
spellingShingle Ali Eltareb
Yang Zhou
Gustavo E. Lopez
Nicolas Giovambattista
Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
Communications Chemistry
title Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
title_full Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
title_fullStr Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
title_full_unstemmed Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
title_short Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
title_sort potential energy landscape formalism for quantum molecular liquids
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01342-9
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AT yangzhou potentialenergylandscapeformalismforquantummolecularliquids
AT gustavoelopez potentialenergylandscapeformalismforquantummolecularliquids
AT nicolasgiovambattista potentialenergylandscapeformalismforquantummolecularliquids