Neural-network based simulation of rare event processes at the water/oxide interface
Subproject P12
Atomistic computer simulations of processes occurring at the water/oxide interface are challenging in several ways. The calculation of atomic forces based on ab initio methods is computationally very demanding, and barrier crossing events may lead to long computation times. Both these aspects severely limit accessible system sizes and simulation times.
In project P12, we will address these challenges using a combination of machine learning and advanced rare event sampling methods. In particular, using software developed in our group and collaborating with P03 Kresse, we will train neural network potentials based on the Behler-Parrinello approach for oxide/water interfaces, starting with the Fe3O4/water system studied in P11 Backus. We will pay special attention to error estimation and the correct treatment of long-range interactions. With the new potential, we will study the structure and dynamics of water near the oxide surface to provide the atomistic information necessary to rationalize the spectroscopy experiments of P11 Backus. Another important goal of P12 is to explore how deep generative models can be used to enhance rare event simulations. For this purpose, we will apply normalizing flows, represented by deep neural networks, to trajectory space. The resulting improved transition path sampling simulations will be used to study reactive processes investigated experimentally in other subprojects of TACO.
Expertise
Our research efforts focus on the development of simulation algorithms and their application to investigate dynamical processes in condensed matter systems based on the principles of equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. In particular, we have helped to create the transition path sampling methodology for the simulation of rare but important events, such as nucleation aprocesses, chemical reactions and biomolecular reorganizations. More recently, we have worked on applying machine learning methods to molecular structure recognition and the representation of potential and free energy surfaces.
Recent research topics include:
- Self-assembly of nanocrystals
- Folding and unfolding of biopolymers
- Interfaces in aqueous systems
- Phase separation in alloys
- Thermo-polarisation
- Structure and dynamics of water and ice
- Cavitation
- Crystallization
- Non-equilibrium work fluctuations
Team

Associates
Publications
2023

Jung, Hendrik; Covino, Roberto; Arjun, A.; Leitold, Christian; Dellago, Christoph; Bolhuis, Peter G.; Hummer, Gerhard
Machine-guided path sampling to discover mechanisms of molecular self-organization
Journal ArticleOpen AccessIn: Nature Computational Science, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 334–345, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12
@article{Jung2023,
title = {Machine-guided path sampling to discover mechanisms of molecular self-organization},
author = {Hendrik Jung and Roberto Covino and A. Arjun and Christian Leitold and Christoph Dellago and Peter G. Bolhuis and Gerhard Hummer},
doi = {10.1038/s43588-023-00428-z},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-24},
journal = {Nature Computational Science},
volume = {3},
number = {4},
pages = {334--345},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Molecular self-organization driven by concerted many-body interactions produces the ordered structures that define both inanimate and living matter. Here we present an autonomous path sampling algorithm that integrates deep learning and transition path theory to discover the mechanism of molecular self-organization phenomena. The algorithm uses the outcome of newly initiated trajectories to construct, validate and—if needed—update quantitative mechanistic models. Closing the learning cycle, the models guide the sampling to enhance the sampling of rare assembly events. Symbolic regression condenses the learned mechanism into a human-interpretable form in terms of relevant physical observables. Applied to ion association in solution, gas-hydrate crystal formation, polymer folding and membrane-protein assembly, we capture the many-body solvent motions governing the assembly process, identify the variables of classical nucleation theory, uncover the folding mechanism at different levels of resolution and reveal competing assembly pathways. The mechanistic descriptions are transferable across thermodynamic states and chemical space.},
keywords = {P12},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2021

Bircher, Martin P; Singraber, Andreas; Dellago, Christoph
Improved description of atomic environments using low-cost polynomial functions with compact support
Journal ArticleOpen AccessIn: Machine Learning: Science and Technology, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 035026, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12, pre-TACO
@article{Bircher2021,
title = {Improved description of atomic environments using low-cost polynomial functions with compact support},
author = {Martin P Bircher and Andreas Singraber and Christoph Dellago},
doi = {10.1088/2632-2153/abf817},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-06-16},
urldate = {2021-06-16},
journal = {Machine Learning: Science and Technology},
volume = {2},
number = {3},
pages = {035026},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
abstract = {The prediction of chemical properties using machine learning techniques calls for a set of appropriate descriptors that accurately describe atomic and, on a larger scale, molecular environments. A mapping of conformational information on a space spanned by atom-centred symmetry functions (SF) has become a standard technique for energy and force predictions using high-dimensional neural network potentials (HDNNP). An appropriate choice of SFs is particularly crucial for accurate force predictions. Established atom-centred SFs, however, are limited in their flexibility, since their functional form restricts the angular domain that can be sampled without introducing problematic derivative discontinuities. Here, we introduce a class of atom-centred SFs based on polynomials with compact support called polynomial symmetry functions (PSF), which enable a free choice of both, the angular and the radial domain covered. We demonstrate that the accuracy of PSFs is either on par or considerably better than that of conventional, atom-centred SFs. In particular, a generic set of PSFs with an intuitive choice of the angular domain inspired by organic chemistry considerably improves prediction accuracy for organic molecules in the gaseous and liquid phase, with reductions in force prediction errors over a test set approaching 50% for certain systems. Contrary to established atom-centred SFs, computation of PSF does not involve any exponentials, and their intrinsic compact support supersedes use of separate cutoff functions, facilitating the choice of their free parameters. Most importantly, the number of floating point operations required to compute polynomial SFs introduced here is considerably lower than that of other state-of-the-art SFs, enabling their efficient implementation without the need of highly optimised code structures or caching, with speedups with respect to other state-of-the-art SFs reaching a factor of 4.5 to 5. This low-effort performance benefit substantially simplifies their use in new programs and emerging platforms such as graphical processing units. Overall, polynomial SFs with compact support improve accuracy of both, energy and force predictions with HDNNPs while enabling significant speedups compared to their well-established counterparts.},
keywords = {P12, pre-TACO},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2020

Wohlfahrt, Oliver; Dellago, Christoph; Sega, Marcello
Journal ArticleOpen AccessIn: The Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 153, no. 14, pp. 144710, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12, pre-TACO
@article{Wohlfahrt2020,
title = {Ab initio structure and thermodynamics of the RPBE-D3 water/vapor interface by neural-network molecular dynamics},
author = {Oliver Wohlfahrt and Christoph Dellago and Marcello Sega},
doi = {10.1063/5.0021852},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-14},
urldate = {2020-10-14},
journal = {The Journal of Chemical Physics},
volume = {153},
number = {14},
pages = {144710},
publisher = {AIP Publishing},
abstract = {Aided by a neural network representation of the density functional theory potential energy landscape of water in the Revised Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof approximation corrected for dispersion, we calculate several structural and thermodynamic properties of its liquid/vapor interface. The neural network speed allows us to bridge the size and time scale gaps required to sample the properties of water along its liquid/vapor coexistence line with unprecedented precision.},
keywords = {P12, pre-TACO},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2019

Michl, Jakob; Sega, Marcello; Dellago, Christoph
Phase stability of the ice XVII-based CO2 chiral hydrate from molecular dynamics simulations
Journal ArticleOpen AccessIn: The Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 151, no. 10, pp. 104502, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12, pre-TACO
@article{Michl2019,
title = {Phase stability of the ice XVII-based CO_{2} chiral hydrate from molecular dynamics simulations},
author = {Jakob Michl and Marcello Sega and Christoph Dellago},
doi = {10.1063/1.5116540},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-12},
urldate = {2019-09-12},
journal = {The Journal of Chemical Physics},
volume = {151},
number = {10},
pages = {104502},
publisher = {AIP Publishing},
abstract = {We computed the phase diagram of CO_{2} hydrates at high pressure (HP), from 0.3 to 20 kbar, by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The two CO_{2} hydrates known to occur in this pressure range are the cubic structure I (sI) clathrate and the HP hydrate, whose water framework is the recently discovered ice XVII. We investigated the stability of both hydrates upon heating (melting) as well as the phase changes upon compression. The CO_{2}-filled ice XVII is found to be more stable than the sI clathrate and than the mixture of ice VI and dry ice at pressure values ranging from 6 to 18 kbar and in a wide temperature range, although a phenomenological correction suggests that the stability should more realistically range from 6.5 to 13.5 kbar. Our simulation results support the current hypothesis that the HP hydrate is stable at temperatures above the melting curve of ice VI.},
keywords = {P12, pre-TACO},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

Singraber, Andreas; Morawietz, Tobias; Behler, Jörg; Dellago, Christoph
Parallel Multistream Training of High-Dimensional Neural Network Potentials
Journal ArticleIn: Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 3075–3092, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12, pre-TACO
@article{Singraber2019,
title = {Parallel Multistream Training of High-Dimensional Neural Network Potentials},
author = {Andreas Singraber and Tobias Morawietz and Jörg Behler and Christoph Dellago},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jctc.8b01092},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-04-17},
journal = {Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {3075--3092},
publisher = {American Chemical Society (ACS)},
abstract = {Over the past years high-dimensional neural network potentials (HDNNPs), fitted to accurately reproduce ab initio potential energy surfaces, have become a powerful tool in chemistry, physics and materials science. Here, we focus on the training of the neural networks that lies at the heart of the HDNNP method. We present an efficient approach for optimizing the weight parameters of the neural network via multistream Kalman filtering, using potential energies and forces as reference data. In this procedure, the choice of the free parameters of the Kalman filter can have a significant impact on the fit quality. Carrying out a large parameter study, we determine optimal settings and demonstrate how to optimize training results of HDNNPs. Moreover, we illustrate our HDNNP training approach by revisiting previously presented fits for water and developing a new potential for copper sulfide. This material, accessible in computer simulations so far only via first-principles methods, forms a particularly complex solid structure at low temperatures and undergoes a phase transition to a superionic state upon heating. Analyzing MD simulations carried out with the Cu_{2}S HDNNP, we confirm that the underlying ab initio reference method indeed reproduces this behavior.},
keywords = {P12, pre-TACO},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

Singraber, Andreas; Behler, Jörg; Dellago, Christoph
Library-Based LAMMPS Implementation of High-Dimensional Neural Network Potentials
Journal ArticleIn: Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1827–1840, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12, pre-TACO
@article{Singraber2019a,
title = {Library-Based LAMMPS Implementation of High-Dimensional Neural Network Potentials},
author = {Andreas Singraber and Jörg Behler and Christoph Dellago},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jctc.8b00770},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-24},
journal = {Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation},
volume = {15},
number = {3},
pages = {1827--1840},
publisher = {American Chemical Society (ACS)},
abstract = {Neural networks and other machine learning approaches have been successfully used to accurately represent atomic interaction potentials derived from computationally demanding electronic structure calculations. Due to their low computational cost, such representations open the possibility for large scale reactive molecular dynamics simulations of processes with bonding situations that cannot be described accurately with traditional empirical force fields. Here, we present a library of functions developed for the implementation of neural network potentials. Written in C++, this library incorporates several strategies resulting in a very high efficiency of neural network potential-energy and force evaluations. Based on this library, we have developed an implementation of the neural network potential within the molecular dynamics package LAMMPS and demonstrate its performance using liquid water as a test system.},
keywords = {P12, pre-TACO},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

Cheng, Bingqing; Engel, Edgar A; Behler, Jörg; Dellago, Christoph; Ceriotti, Michele
Ab initio thermodynamics of liquid and solid water
Journal ArticleOpen AccessIn: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116, no. 4, pp. 1110–1115, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: P12, pre-TACO
@article{Cheng2019,
title = {Ab initio thermodynamics of liquid and solid water},
author = {Bingqing Cheng and Edgar A Engel and Jörg Behler and Christoph Dellago and Michele Ceriotti},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.1815117116},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-04},
urldate = {2019-01-04},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
volume = {116},
number = {4},
pages = {1110--1115},
publisher = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
abstract = {A central goal of computational physics and chemistry is to predict material properties by using first-principles methods based on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. However, the high computational costs of these methods typically prevent rigorous predictions of macroscopic quantities at finite temperatures, such as heat capacity, density, and chemical potential. Here, we enable such predictions by marrying advanced free-energy methods with data-driven machine-learning interatomic potentials. We show that, for the ubiquitous and technologically essential system of water, a first-principles thermodynamic description not only leads to excellent agreement with experiments, but also reveals the crucial role of nuclear quantum fluctuations in modulating the thermodynamic stabilities of different phases of water.},
keywords = {P12, pre-TACO},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}