Computing the local pressure in molecular dynamics simulations

作者:Lion Thomas W*; Allen Rosalind J
来源:Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter , 2012, 24(28): 284133.
DOI:10.1088/0953-8984/24/28/284133

摘要

Computer simulations of inhomogeneous soft matter systems often require accurate methods for computing the local pressure. We present a simple derivation, based on the virial relation, of two equivalent expressions for the local (atomistic) pressure in a molecular dynamics simulation. One of these expressions, previously derived by other authors via a different route, involves summation over interactions between particles within the region of interest; the other involves summation over interactions across the boundary of the region of interest. We illustrate our derivation using simulations of a simple osmotic system; both expressions produce accurate results even when the region of interest over which the pressure is measured is very small.

  • 出版日期2012-7-18