The Dynamo Library for Molecular Simulations Using Hybrid Quantum Mechanical and Molecular Mechanical Potentials

Abstract

The Dynamo module library has been developed for the simulation of molecular systems using hybrid quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular mechanical (MM) potentials. Dynamo is not a program package but is a library of Fortran 90 modules that can be employed by those interested in writing their own programs for performing molecular simulations. The library supports a range of different types of molecular calculation including geometry optimizations, reaction-path determinations and molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. This article outlines the general structure and capabilities of the library and describes in detail Dynamo's semiempirical QM/MM hybrid potential. Results are presented to indicate three particular aspects of this implementation - the handling of long-range nonbonding interactions, the nature of the boundary between the quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical atoms and how to perform path-integral hybrid-potential molecular dynamics simulations. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.