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MA7541 Methods in Molecular Simulation
| Credits: 20 | Convenor: Dr. Ruslan Davidchack | Semester: 1 | 
| Prerequisites: |  |  | 
| Assessment: | Lab reports and coursework: 100% | Examination: 0% | 
| Lectures: | 36 | Problem Classes: | none | 
| Tutorials: | none | Private Study: | 102 | 
| Labs: | 12 | Seminars: | none | 
| Project: | none | Other: | none | 
| Surgeries: | none | Total: | 150 | 
Subject Knowledge
  Aims
The course is intended to provide a grounding in both molecular
dynamics and Monte Carlo simulation techniques, and acquaint students
with some "tricks of the trade".
   
  
Learning Outcomes
Students should know and understand a variety of techniques for modelling
molecular system with both Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics approaches.
Students should also have sufficient knowledge to set up the simulation of
a system, develp and run a correct simulation procedure and compute
various macroscopic properties of the system.
   
  
Methods
Class sessions, computer labs, and problem classes  
   
  
Assessment
Marked problem sheets and lab reports
   
 
Subject Skills
  Aims
Students should develop skills for modelling simple molecular 
systems and studying their properties.
   
  
Learning Outcomes
Students will gain scientific programming skills for carrying out molecular 
simulations of simple systems.  By the end of the module students should be 
able to formulate the simulation goals; select and develop appropriate 
numerical methods for reaching the goals; write computer
programs to numerically compute desired macroscopic quantities; estimate 
the error bounds for the obtained results; present and interpret
these results in the context of an application.
   
  
Methods
    Class sessions, computer lab sessions, and problem classes
   
  
Assessment
    Marked problem sheets and lab reports
   
 
Explanation of Pre-requisites
 
Basic understanding of Newtonian dynamics, probability, thermodynamics;
programming skills in C or Fortran.
 
Course Description
Computer simulation is an essential tool in studying the chemistry and
physics of materials.  Simulations allow us to develop and test models,
to evaluate approximate theories, and to obtain detailed information
about the structure and dynamics of model systems at the molecular 
level.  The course covers a wide range of practical methods, taking 
students through the process of formulating the problem, developing 
the necessary software and, finally, making actual measurements of 
various static and dynamic properties of simulated substances.  
 
Syllabus
- Computer simulations as numerical experiments;
- Model systems and interaction potentials;
- Studying small systems: periodic boundary conditions, truncating
  potentials, Ewald sums;
- Molecular dynamics: integrating equations of motion;
- Constraint dynamics;
- Event-driven algorithms for hard-wall potentials;
- Increasing efficiency: cell subdivision, neighbour lists,
  force tabulation;
- Monte Carlo methods: importance sampling, Metropolis method;
- Measuring system properties;
- Calculation of thermodynamic, structural and dynamical 
  properties;
- Equilibration, statistical sampling, error estimates;
Reading list
Recommended:
M.P. Allen and D.J. Tildesley, 
Computer simulation of liquids, 
Clarendon Press.
D.C. Rapaport,  
The art of molecular dynamics simulation, 
Cambridge University Press.
D. Frenkel and B. Smit, 
Understanding molecular simulation:
From algorithms to applications, 
Academic Press.
 
Resources
  Lecture rooms, computer labs.
 
Module Evaluation
  Module questionnaires, module review, year review. 
 
 Next: About this document ...
 Up: ModuleGuide03-04
 Previous: MA7521 Wavelets and Signal Processing
Author: C. D. Coman, tel: +44 (0)116 252 3902
Last updated: 2004-02-21
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