Initial position optimization in molecular dynamics simulations for a Coulomb system

J Jo and MU Lee and JY Ji, PHYSICS OF PLASMAS, 32, 053902 (2025).

DOI: 10.1063/5.0253486

A new algorithm for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is developed to optimize plasma particle distributions at given initial temperatures. By combining velocity scaling and reassignment, the method effectively eliminates the initial rise and oscillation in temperatures observed with randomly distributed positions. These rises and oscillations are undesired numerical artifacts observed in conventional plasma MD simulations, arising from unoptimized particle positions. The algorithm demonstrates temperature relaxation without initial rises or oscillations, as well as precise flow velocity relaxation, enabling accurate measurement of relaxation times. The code is accelerated using graphics processing units for parallel processing, enhancing the study of plasma dynamics. The proposed method for distributing physically valid particles in MD simulations enables accurate studies of intrinsic collision processes in plasmas, including the dynamics of strongly coupled plasmas, plasma-wave interactions, and transport phenomena in magnetized plasmas. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential applications and future enhancements to the algorithm. (C) 2025 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Return to Publications page