Computational Physics on Graphics Processing Units

The use of graphics processing units for scientific computations is an emerging strategy that can significantly speed up various different algorithms. In this review, we discuss advances made in the field of computational physics, focusing on classical molecular dynamics, and on quantum simulations for electronic structure calculations using the density functional theory, wave function techniques, and quantum field theory.Comment: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, PARA 2012, Helsinki, Finland, June 10-13, 201

A weakly stable algorithm for general Toeplitz systems

We show that a fast algorithm for the QR factorization of a Toeplitz or Hankel matrix A is weakly stable in the sense that R^T.R is close to A^T.A. Thus, when the algorithm is used to solve the semi-normal equations R^T.Rx = A^Tb, we obtain a weakly stable method for the solution of a nonsingular Toeplitz or Hankel linear system Ax = b. The algorithm also applies to the solution of the full-rank Toeplitz or Hankel least squares problem.Comment: 17 pages. An old Technical Report with postscript added. For further details, see http://wwwmaths.anu.edu.au/~brent/pub/pub143.htm

A Quantum-mechanical Approach for Constrained Macromolecular Chains

Many approaches to three-dimensional constrained macromolecular chains at thermal equilibrium, at about room temperatures, are based upon constrained Classical Hamiltonian Dynamics (cCHDa). Quantum-mechanical approaches (QMa) have also been treated by different researchers for decades. QMa address a fundamental issue (constraints versus the uncertainty principle) and are versatile: they also yield classical descriptions (which may not coincide with those from cCHDa, although they may agree for certain relevant quantities). Open issues include whether QMa have enough practical consequences which differ from and/or improve those from cCHDa. We shall treat cCHDa briefly and deal with QMa, by outlining old approaches and focusing on recent ones.Comment: Expands review published in The European Physical Journal (Special Topics) Vol. 200, pp. 225-258 (2011

Numerical methods for molecular dynamics. Final report, August 1, 1993--January 31, 1996

The aim of this research is to explore ideas for more efficient numerical integrators for molecular dynamics (MD) and where needed to develop appropriate theoretical tools. Emphasis is on macromolecules and techniques suitable for implementation in the biomolecular dynamics program NAMD. Listed on this report are the main accomplishments during the past two or so years. First are listed algorithmic developments suitable for implementation. Second are listed more theoretical developments helpful for further exploration of new algorithms

Numerical methods for molecular dynamics

This report summarizes our research progress to date on the use of multigrid methods for three-dimensional elliptic partial differential equations, with particular emphasis on application to the Poisson-Boltzmann equation of molecular biophysics. This research is motivated by the need for fast and accurate numerical solution techniques for three-dimensional problems arising in physics and engineering. In many applications these problems must be solved repeatedly, and the extremely large number of discrete unknowns required to accurately approximate solutions to partial differential equations in three-dimensional regions necessitates the use of efficient solution methods. This situation makes clear the importance of developing methods which are of optimal order (or nearly so), meaning that the number of operations required to solve the discrete problem is on the order of the number of discrete unknowns. Multigrid methods are generally regarded as being in this class of methods, and are in fact provably optimal order for an increasingly large class of problems. The fundamental goal of this research is to develop a fast and accurate numerical technique, based on multi-level principles, for the solutions of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation of molecular biophysics and similar equations occurring in other applications. An outline of the report is as follows. We first present some background material, followed by a survey of the literature on the use of multigrid methods for solving problems similar to the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. A short description of the software we have developed so far is then given, and numerical results are discussed. Finally, our research plans for the coming year are presented

Corrected potential energy functions for constrained molecular dynamics

Atomic oscillations present in classical molecular dynamics restrict the step size that can be used. Multiple time stepping schemes offer only modest improvements, and implicit integrators are costly and inaccurate. The best approach may be to actually remove the highest frequency oscillations by constraining bond lengths and bond angles, thus permitting perhaps a 4-fold increase in the step size. However, omitting degrees of freedom produces errors in statistical averages, and rigid angles do not bend for strong excluded volume forces. These difficulties can be addressed by an enhanced treatment of holonomic constrained dynamics using ideas from papers of Fixman (1974) and Reich (1995, 1999). In particular, the 1995 paper proposes the use of “flexible” constraints, and the 1999 paper uses a modified potential energy function with rigid constraints to emulate flexible constraints. Presented here is a more direct and rigorous derivation of the latter approach, together with justification for the use of constraints in molecular modeling. With rigor comes limitations, so practical compromises are proposed: simplifications of the equations and their judicious application when assumptions are violated. Included are suggestions for new approaches

Workshop on algorithms for macromolecular modeling. Final project report, June 1, 1994--May 31, 1995

A workshop was held on algorithms and parallel implementations for macromolecular dynamics, protein folding, and structural refinement. This document contains abstracts and brief reports from that workshop

A method for the spatial discretisation of parabolic equations in one space variable

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:7621.07(LU-DCS--217) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo