Multi-scale global optimization of all-atom molecular models of n-alkanes

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

4-21-2009

Abstract

All-atom potential energy models of solid n-alkanes are important in understanding wax formation. Numerical results for molecular conformation computations using the multi-scale terrain/funneling method of Lucia and co-workers [Lucia, A., DiMaggio, P. A., & Depa, P. (2004a). A geometric terrain methodology for global optimization. Journal of Global Optimization, 29, 297; Lucia, A., DiMaggio, P. A., & Depa, P. (2004b). Funneling algorithms for multi-scale optimization on rugged terrains. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 43, 3770; Gattupalli, R. R., & Lucia, A. (2007). Molecular conformation of n-alkanes using terrain/funneling methods. Journal of Global Optimization, doi:10.1007/s10898-007-9206-5] are reported for all-atom potential energy models of the solid n-alkanes: dodecane, hexadecane, tetracosane, and triacontane, and compared with the basin hopping method of Wales and Doye [Wales, D. J., & Doye, J. P. K. (1997). Global optimization by basin hopping and the lowest energy structures of Lennard-Jones clusters containing up to 110 atoms. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 101, 5111]. It is shown that the terrain/funneling method is capable of finding the global minimum energy molecular conformation for all examples in a reliable and efficient manner while basin hopping often fails. These numerical results provide strong evidence demonstrating that the multi-scale terrain/funneling method is a powerful global optimization method for solving molecular conformation problems. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Computers and Chemical Engineering

Volume

33

Issue

4

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