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We investigate the minimization of the energy per point E f among d-dimensional Bravais lattices, depending on the choice of pairwise potential equal to a radially symmetric function f(| x| 2 ). We formulate criteria for minimality and non-minimality of some lattices for E f at fixed scale based on the sign of the inverse Laplace transform of f when f is a superposition of exponentials, beyond the class of completely monotone functions. We also construct a family of non-completely monotone functions having the triangular lattice as the unique minimizer of E f at any scale. For Lennard-Jones type potentials, we reduce the minimization problem among all Bravais lattices to a minimization over the smaller space of unit-density lattices and we establish a link to the maximum kissing problem. New numerical evidence for the optimality of particular lattices for all the exponents are also given. We finally design one-well potentials f such that the square lattice has lower energy E f than the triangular one. Many open questions are also presented.

A study of atomic structures and localized symmetrized vibrations in α-quartz with silicon vacancies in different charge states is presented. This study is performed by computer modeling on the basis of the first-principle type potentials. The equilibrium structures are optimized by minimizing the lattice energy. The phonon symmetrized local densities of states are calculated by means of a recursion method. Moreover, frequencies of localized vibrations of A- and B-symmetries induced by silicon vacancies are determined. The results are discussed in comparative manner for the silicon vacancy in three charge states. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.

The sixth blind test of organic crystal structure prediction (CSP) methods has been held, with five target systems: a small nearly rigid molecule, a polymorphic former drug candidate, a chloride salt hydrate, a co-crystal and a bulky flexible molecule. This blind test has seen substantial growth in the number of participants, with the broad range of prediction methods giving a unique insight into the state of the art in the field. Significant progress has been seen in treating flexible molecules, usage of hierarchical approaches to ranking structures, the application of density-functional approximations, and the establishment of new workflows and `best practices' for performing CSP calculations. All of the targets, apart from a single potentially disordered Z$^\prime$ = 2 polymorph of the drug candidate, were predicted by at least one submission. Despite many remaining challenges, it is clear that CSP methods are becoming more applicable to a wider range of real systems, including salts, hydrates and larger flexible molecules. The results also highlight the potential for CSP calculations to complement and augment experimental studies of organic solid forms.

The sixth blind test of organic crystal structure prediction (CSP) methods has been held, with five target systems: a small nearly rigid molecule, a polymorphic former drug candidate, a chloride salt hydrate, a co-crystal and a bulky flexible molecule. This blind test has seen substantial growth in the number of participants, with the broad range of prediction methods giving a unique insight into the state of the art in the field. Significant progress has been seen in treating flexible molecules, usage of hierarchical approaches to ranking structures, the application of density-functional approximations, and the establishment of new workflows and `best practices' for performing CSP calculations. All of the targets, apart from a single potentially disordered Z$^\prime$ = 2 polymorph of the drug candidate, were predicted by at least one submission. Despite many remaining challenges, it is clear that CSP methods are becoming more applicable to a wider range of real systems, including salts, hydrates and larger flexible molecules. The results also highlight the potential for CSP calculations to complement and augment experimental studies of organic solid forms.

The first principles methods, density-functional theory and quantum Monte Carlo, have been used to examine the balance between van der Waals (vdW) forces and hydrogen bonding in ambient and high-pressure phases of ice. At higher pressure, the contribution to the lattice energy from vdW increases and that from hydrogen bonding decreases, leading vdW to have a substantial effect on the transition pressures between the crystalline ice phases. An important consequence, likely to be of relevance to molecular crystals in general, is that transition pressures obtained from density-functional theory exchange-correlation functionals which neglect vdW forces are greatly overestimated. © 2011 American Physical Society.

The first principles methods, density-functional theory and quantum Monte Carlo, have been used to examine the balance between van der Waals (vdW) forces and hydrogen bonding in ambient and high-pressure phases of ice. At higher pressure, the contribution to the lattice energy from vdW increases and that from hydrogen bonding decreases, leading vdW to have a substantial effect on the transition pressures between the crystalline ice phases. An important consequence, likely to be of relevance to molecular crystals in general, is that transition pressures obtained from density-functional theory exchange-correlation functionals which neglect vdW forces are greatly overestimated. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Molecular simulation is increasingly used by chemical engineers and industrial chemists in process and product development. In particular, the possibility to predict the structure and stability of potential polymorphs of a substance is of tremendous interest to the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industry. Molecular mechanics modeling relies on the use of parametrized force fields and methods of assigning point charges to the atoms in the molecules. In commercial molecular simulation software, a wide variety of such combinations are available, and there is a need for critical assessment of the capabilities of the different alternatives. In the present work, the performance of several molecular mechanics force fields combined with different methods for the assignment of atomic point charges have been examined with regard to their ability to calculate absolute crystal lattice energies and their capacity to identify the experimental structure as a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface. Seven small, aromatic monomolecular crystalline compounds are used in the evaluation. It is found that the majority of the examined methods cannot be used to reliably predict absolute lattice energies. The most promising results were obtained with the Pcff force field using integral charges, and the Dreiding force field using Gasteiger charges, both of which performed with an accuracy of the same order of magnitude as the variations in experimental lattice energies. Overall, it has been observed that the best results are achieved if the same force field method is used to relax the crystal structure and calculate the energy, and to optimize and calculate the energy of the gas phase molecule used for the correction for changes in molecular geometry. The Pcff and Compass force fields with integral charges have been found to predict relaxed structures closest to the experimental ones. In addition, five different methods for determining point charges fitted to the electrostatic, QC 20101029

Molecular simulation is increasingly used by chemical engineers and industrial chemists in process and product development. In particular, the possibility to predict the structure and stability of potential polymorphs of a substance is of tremendous interest to the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industry. Molecular mechanics modeling relies on the use of parametrized force fields and methods of assigning point charges to the atoms in the molecules. In commercial molecular simulation software, a wide variety of such combinations are available, and there is a need for critical assessment of the capabilities of the different alternatives. In the present work, the performance of several molecular mechanics force fields combined with different methods for the assignment of atomic point charges have been examined with regard to their ability to calculate absolute crystal lattice energies and their capacity to identify the experimental structure as a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface. Seven small, aromatic monomolecular crystalline compounds are used in the evaluation. It is found that the majority of the examined methods cannot be used to reliably predict absolute lattice energies. The most promising results were obtained with the Pcff force field using integral charges, and the Dreiding force field using Gasteiger charges, both of which performed with an accuracy of the same order of magnitude as the variations in experimental lattice energies. Overall, it has been observed that the best results are achieved if the same force field method is used to relax the crystal structure and calculate the energy, and to optimize and calculate the energy of the gas phase molecule used for the correction for changes in molecular geometry. The Pcff and Compass force fields with integral charges have been found to predict relaxed structures closest to the experimental ones. In addition, five different methods for determining point charges fitted to the electrostatic, QC 20101029

Molecular simulation is increasingly used by chemical engineers and industrial chemists in process and product development. In particular, the possibility to predict the structure and stability of potential polymorphs of a substance is of tremendous interest to the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industry. Molecular mechanics modeling relies on the use of parametrized force fields and methods of assigning point charges to the atoms in the molecules. In commercial molecular simulation software, a wide variety of such combinations are available, and there is a need for critical assessment of the capabilities of the different alternatives. In the present work, the performance of several molecular mechanics force fields combined with different methods for the assignment of atomic point charges have been examined with regard to their ability to calculate absolute crystal lattice energies and their capacity to identify the experimental structure as a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface. Seven small, aromatic monomolecular crystalline compounds are used in the evaluation. It is found that the majority of the examined methods cannot be used to reliably predict absolute lattice energies. The most promising results were obtained with the Pcff force field using integral charges, and the Dreiding force field using Gasteiger charges, both of which performed with an accuracy of the same order of magnitude as the variations in experimental lattice energies. Overall, it has been observed that the best results are achieved if the same force field method is used to relax the crystal structure and calculate the energy, and to optimize and calculate the energy of the gas phase molecule used for the correction for changes in molecular geometry. The Pcff and Compass force fields with integral charges have been found to predict relaxed structures closest to the experimental ones. In addition, five different methods for determining point charges fitted to the electrostatic, QC 20101029

Molecular simulation is increasingly used by chemical engineers and industrial chemists in process and product development. In particular, the possibility to predict the structure and stability of potential polymorphs of a substance is of tremendous interest to the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industry. Molecular mechanics modeling relies on the use of parametrized force fields and methods of assigning point charges to the atoms in the molecules. In commercial molecular simulation software, a wide variety of such combinations are available, and there is a need for critical assessment of the capabilities of the different alternatives. In the present work, the performance of several molecular mechanics force fields combined with different methods for the assignment of atomic point charges have been examined with regard to their ability to calculate absolute crystal lattice energies and their capacity to identify the experimental structure as a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface. Seven small, aromatic monomolecular crystalline compounds are used in the evaluation. It is found that the majority of the examined methods cannot be used to reliably predict absolute lattice energies. The most promising results were obtained with the Pcff force field using integral charges, and the Dreiding force field using Gasteiger charges, both of which performed with an accuracy of the same order of magnitude as the variations in experimental lattice energies. Overall, it has been observed that the best results are achieved if the same force field method is used to relax the crystal structure and calculate the energy, and to optimize and calculate the energy of the gas phase molecule used for the correction for changes in molecular geometry. The Pcff and Compass force fields with integral charges have been found to predict relaxed structures closest to the experimental ones. In addition, five different methods for determining point charges fitted to the electrostatic, QC 20101029

Molecular simulation is increasingly used by chemical engineers and industrial chemists in process and product development. In particular, the possibility to predict the structure and stability of potential polymorphs of a substance is of tremendous interest to the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industry. Molecular mechanics modeling relies on the use of parametrized force fields and methods of assigning point charges to the atoms in the molecules. In commercial molecular simulation software, a wide variety of such combinations are available, and there is a need for critical assessment of the capabilities of the different alternatives. In the present work, the performance of several molecular mechanics force fields combined with different methods for the assignment of atomic point charges have been examined with regard to their ability to calculate absolute crystal lattice energies and their capacity to identify the experimental structure as a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface. Seven small, aromatic monomolecular crystalline compounds are used in the evaluation. It is found that the majority of the examined methods cannot be used to reliably predict absolute lattice energies. The most promising results were obtained with the Pcff force field using integral charges, and the Dreiding force field using Gasteiger charges, both of which performed with an accuracy of the same order of magnitude as the variations in experimental lattice energies. Overall, it has been observed that the best results are achieved if the same force field method is used to relax the crystal structure and calculate the energy, and to optimize and calculate the energy of the gas phase molecule used for the correction for changes in molecular geometry. The Pcff and Compass force fields with integral charges have been found to predict relaxed structures closest to the experimental ones. In addition, five different methods for determining point charges fitted to the electrostatic, QC 20101029