Description
This keyword requests that a geometry optimization be performed. The geometry will be adjusted until a stationary point on the potential surface is found. Analytic gradients will be used if available. For the Hartree-Fock, CIS, MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ), CID, CISD, CCD, CCSD, QCISD, BD, CASSCF, and all DFT and semi-empirical methods, the default algorithm for both minimizations (optimizations to a local minimum) and optimizations to transition states and higher-order saddle points is the Berny algorithm using GEDIIS [Li06] in redundant internal coordinates [Pulay79, Fogarasi92, Pulay92, Baker93, Peng93, Peng96] (corresponding to the Redundant option). An brief overview of the Berny algorithm is provided in the final subsection of this discussion. The default algorithm for all methods lacking analytic gradients is the eigenvalue-following algorithm (Opt=EF).
Gaussian includes the STQN method for locating transition structures. This method, implemented by H. B. Schlegel and coworkers [Peng93, Peng96], uses a quadratic synchronous transit approach to get closer to the quadratic region of the transition state and then uses a quasi-Newton or eigenvector-following algorithm to complete the optimization. Like the default algorithm for minimizations, it performs optimizations by default in redundant internal coordinates. This method will converge efficiently when provided with an empirical estimate of the Hessian and suitable starting structures.
This method is requested with the QST2 and QST3 options. QST2 requires two molecule specifications, for the reactants and products, as its input, while QST3 requires three molecule specifications: the reactants, the products, and an initial structure for the transition state, in that order. The order of the atoms must be identical within all molecule specifications. See the examples for sample input for and output from this method.
Basic information as well as techniques and pitfalls related to geometry optimizations are discussed in detail in chapter 3 of Exploring Chemistry with Electronic Structure Methods [Foresman15]. For a review article on optimization and related subjects, see [Hratchian05a].
Gaussian 16 supports generalized internal coordinates (GIC), a facility which allows arbitrary redundant internal coordinates to be defined and used for optimization constraints and other purposes [Marenich17p]. There are several GIC-related options to Opt, and the GIC Info subsection describes using GICs as well as their limitations in the present implementation.
The Berny Optimization Algorithm
The Berny geometry optimization algorithm in Gaussian is based on an earlier program written by H. B. Schlegel which implemented his published algorithm [Schlegel82]. The program has been considerably enhanced since this earlier version using techniques either taken from other algorithms or never published, and consequently it is appropriate to summarize the current status of the Berny algorithm here.
At each step of a Berny optimization the following actions are taken:
- The Hessian is updated unless an analytic Hessian has been computed or it is the first step, in which case an estimate of the Hessian is made. Normally the update is done using an iterated BFGS for minima and an iterated Bofill for transition states in redundant internal coordinates, and using a modification of the original Schlegel update procedure for optimizations in internal coordinates. By default, this is derived from a valence force field [Schlegel84a], but upon request either a unit matrix or a diagonal Hessian can also be generated as estimates.
- The trust radius (maximum allowed Newton-Raphson step) is updated if a minimum is sought, using the method of Fletcher [Fletcher80, Bofill94, Bofill95].
- Any components of the gradient vector corresponding to frozen variables are set to zero or projected out, thereby eliminating their direct contribution to the next optimization step.
If a minimum is sought, perform a linear search between the latest point and the best previous point (the previous point having lowest energy). If second derivatives are available at both points and a minimum is sought, a quintic polynomial fit is attempted first; if it does not have a minimum in the acceptable range (see below) or if second derivatives are not available, a constrained quartic fit is attempted. This fits a quartic polynomial to the energy and first derivative (along the connecting line) at the two points with the constraint that the second derivative of the polynomial just reach zero at its minimum, thereby ensuring that the polynomial itself has exactly one minimum. If this fit fails or if the resulting step is unacceptable, a simple cubic is fit is done.
Any quintic or quartic step is considered acceptable if the latest point is the best so far but if the newest point is not the best, the linear search must return a point in between the most recent and the best step to be acceptable. Cubic steps are never accepted unless they are in between the two points or no larger than the previous step. Finally, if all fits fail and the most recent step is the best so far, no linear step is taken. If all fits fail and the most recent step is not the best, the linear step is taken to the midpoint of the line connecting the most recent and the best previous points. - If the latest point is the best so far or if a transition state is sought, a quadratic step is determined using the current (possibly approximate) second derivatives. If a linear search was done, the quadratic step is taken from the point extrapolated using the linear search and uses forces at that point estimated by interpolating between the forces at the two points used in the linear search. By default, this step uses the Rational Function Optimization (RFO) approach [Simons83, Banerjee85, Baker86, Baker87]. The RFO step behaves better than the Newton-Raphson method used in earlier versions of Gaussian when the curvature at the current point is not that desired. The old Newton-Raphson step is available as an option.
- Any components of the step vector resulting from the quadratic step corresponding to frozen variables are set to zero or projected out.
- If the quadratic step exceeds the trust radius and a minimum is sought, the step is reduced in length to the trust radius by searching for a minimum of the quadratic function on the sphere having the trust radius, as discussed by Jørgensen [Golab83]. If a transition state is sought or if NRScale was requested, the quadratic step is simply scaled down to the trust radius.
- Finally, convergence is tested against criteria for the maximum force component, root-mean square force, maximum step component, and root-mean-square step. The step is the change between the most recent point and the next to be computed (the sum of the linear and quadratic steps).
Selecting the Optimization Goal
By default, optimizations search for a local minimum.
QST2
Search for a transition structure using the STQN method. This option requires the reactant and product structures as input, specified in two consecutive groups of title and molecule specification sections. Note that the atoms must be specified in the same order in the two structures. The TS option should not be combined with QST2.
QST3
Search for a transition structure using the STQN method. This option requires the reactant, product, and initial TS structures as input, specified in three consecutive groups of title and molecule specification sections. Note that the atoms must be specified in the same order within the three structures. The TS option should not be combined with QST3.
TS
Requests optimization to a transition state rather than a local minimum, using the Berny algorithm.
Saddle=N
Requests optimization to a saddle point of order N using the Berny algorithm.
Conical
Search for a conical intersection or avoided crossing using the state-averaged CASSCF method. Avoided is a synonym for Conical. Note that CASSCF=SlaterDet is needed in order to locate a conical intersection between a singlet state and a triplet state.
Options
Options to Modify the Initial Geometry
ModRedundant
Except for any case when it is combined with the GIC option (see below), the ModRedundant option will add, delete, or modify redundant internal coordinate definitions (including scan and constraint information) before performing the calculation. This option requires a separate input section following the geometry specification; when used in conjunction with QST2 or QST3, a ModRedundant input section must follow each geometry specification. AddRedundant is synonymous with ModRedundant.
Lines in a ModRedundant input section use the following syntax:
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] [A | F] [Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] B [Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] K | R [Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] D [Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] H diag-elem [Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] S nsteps stepsize
N1, N2, N3, and N4 are atom numbers or wildcards (discussed below). Atom numbering begins at 1, and any dummy atoms are not counted.
The atom numbers are followed by a one-character code letter indicating the coordinate modification to be performed; the action code is sometimes followed by additional required parameters as indicated above. If no action code is included, the default action is to add the specified coordinate. These are the available action codes:
A | Activate the coordinate for optimization if it has been frozen. |
F | Freeze the coordinate in the optimization. |
B | Add the coordinate and build all related coordinates. |
K | Remove the coordinate and kill all related coordinates containing this coordinate. |
R | Remove the coordinate from the definition list (but not the related coordinates). |
D | Calculate numerical second derivatives for the row and column of the initial Hessian for this coordinate. |
H | Change the diagonal element for this coordinate in the initial Hessian to diag-elem. |
S | Perform a relaxed potential energy surface scan. Increment the coordinate by stepsize a total of nsteps times, performing an optimization from each resulting starting geometry. |
An asterisk (*) in the place of an atom number indicates a wildcard. Here are some examples of wildcard use:
* | All atoms specified by Cartesian coordinates. |
* * | All defined bonds. |
3 * | All defined bonds with atom 3. |
* * * | All defined valence angles. |
* 4 * | All defined valence angles around atom 4. |
* * * * | All defined dihedral angles. |
* 3 4 * | All defined dihedral angles around the bond connecting atoms 3 and 4. |
By default, the coordinate type is determined from the number of atoms specified: Cartesian coordinates for 1 atom, bond stretch for 2 atoms, valence angle for 3 atoms, and dihedral angle for 4 atoms. Optionally, type can be used to designate these and additional coordinate types:
X | Cartesian coordinates. |
B | Bond length. |
A | Valence angle. |
D | Dihedral angle. |
L | Linear bend specified by three atoms (if N4 is -1) or by four atoms, where the fourth atom is used to determine the 2 orthogonal directions of the linear bend. |
See the examples for illustrations of the use of ModRedundant.
ReadOptimize
Read an input section modifying which atoms are to be optimized. The atom list is specified in a separate input section (terminated by a blank line). By default, the atom list contains all atoms in the molecule, unless any atoms are designated as frozen within the molecule specification, in which case the initial atom list excludes them. If the structure is being read in from the checkpoint file, then the list of atoms to be optimized matches that in the checkpoint file. ReadOpt and RdOpt are synonyms for this option. ReadFreeze and RdFreeze are deprecated synonyms.
The input section uses the following format:
atoms=list [notatoms=list]
where each list is a comma or space-separated list of atom numbers, atom number ranges and/or atom types. Keywords are applied in succession. Here are some examples:
atoms=3-6,17 notatoms=5 | Adds atoms 3,4,6,17 to atom list. Removes 5 if present. |
atoms=3 C 18-30 notatoms=H | Adds all C & non-H among atoms 3, 18-30. |
atoms=C N notatoms=5 | Adds all C and N atoms except atom 5. |
atoms=1-5 notatoms=H atoms=8-10 | Adds atoms 8-10 and non-hydrogens among atoms 1-5, |
Bare integers without a keyword are interpreted as atom numbers:
1,3,5 7 Adds atoms 1, 3, 5 and 7.
For ONIOM optimizations only, block and notblock can be similarly used to include/not include rigid blocks defined in ONIOM molecule specifications. If there are contradictions between atoms specified as atoms and within blocks—e.g., an atom is included within a block but excluded by atom type—Gaussian 16 generates an error.
You can start from an empty atom list by placing noatoms as the first item in the input section. For example, the following input optimizes all non-hydrogen atoms within atoms 1-100 and freezes all other atoms in the molecule:
noatoms atoms=1-100 notatoms=H
Atoms can also be specified by ONIOM layer via the [not]layer keywords, which accept these values: real for the real system, model for the model system in a 2-layer ONIOM, middle for the middle layer in a 3-layer ONIOM, and small for the model layer of a 3-layer ONIOM. Atoms may be similarly included/excluded by residue with residue and notresidue, which accept lists of residue names. Both keyword pairs function as shorthand forms for atom lists.
Separate sections are read for each geometry for transition state optimizations using QST2 or QST3. Be aware that providing contradictory input—e.g., different frozen atoms for the reactants and products—will produce unpredictable results.
NoFreeze
Activates (unfreezes) all variables, in other words freeze nothing and optimize all atoms. This option is useful when reading in a structure from a checkpoint file that contains frozen atoms (i.e. with Geom=Check). This option should not be used with GICs; use UnFreezeAll in the GIC input section instead.
General Procedural Options
MaxCycles=N
Sets the maximum number of optimization steps to N. The default is the maximum of 20 and twice the number of redundant internal coordinates in use (for the default procedure) or twice the number of variables to be optimized (for other procedures).
MaxStep=N
Sets the maximum size for an optimization step (the initial trust radius) to 0.01N Bohr or radians. The default value for N is 30.
Restart
Restarts a geometry optimization from the checkpoint file. In this case, the entire route section will consist of the Opt keyword and the same options to it as specified for the original job (along with Restart). No other input is needed (see the examples).
InitialHarmonic=N
Add harmonic constraints to the initial structure with force constant N/1000000 Hartree/Bohr2. IHarmonic is a synonym for this option.
ChkHarmonic=N
Add harmonic constraints to the initial structure saved on the chk file with force constant N/1000000 Hartree/Bohr2. CHarmonic is a synonym for this option.
ReadHarmonic=N
Add harmonic constraints to a structure read in the input stream (in the input orientation), with force constant N/1000000 Hartree/Bohr2. RHarmonic is a synonym for this option.
MaxMicroiterations=N
Allow up to N microiterations. The default is based on NAtoms but is at least 5000. MaxMicro is a synonym for this option.
NGoUp=N
Opt=NGoUp=N allows the energy to increase N times before the algorithm switches to doing only linear searches. The default is 1, meaning that only linear searches are performed after the second time in row that the energy increases. N=-1 forces only linear searches whenever the energy rises.
NGoDown=N
When near a saddle point, mix at most N eigenvectors of the Hessian with negative eigenvalues to form a step away from the saddle point. The default is 3. N=-1 turns this feature off, and the algorithm takes only the regular RFO step. NoDownHill is equivalent to NGoDown=-1.
MaxEStep=N
Take a step of length N/1000 (Bohr or radians) when moving away from a saddle point. The default is N=600 (0.6) for regular optimizations and N=100 (0.1) for ONIOM Opt=Quadmac calculations.
Options Related to Initial Force Constants
Unless you specify otherwise, a Berny geometry optimization starts with an initial guess for the second derivative matrix—also known as the Hessian—which is determined using connectivity derived from atomic radii and a simple valence force field [Schlegel84a, Peng96]. The approximate matrix is improved at each point using the computed first derivatives. This scheme usually works fine, but for some cases the initial guess may be so poor that the optimization fails to start off properly or spends many early steps improving the Hessian without nearing the optimized structure. In addition, for optimizations to transition states, some knowledge of the curvature around the saddle point is essential, and the default approximate Hessian must always be improved.
There are a variety of options which retrieve or compute improved force constants for a geometry optimization. They are listed following this preliminary discussion.
There are two other approaches to providing the initial Hessian which are sometimes useful:
- Input new guesses: The default approximate matrix can be used, but with new guesses read in for some or all of the diagonal elements of the Hessian. This is specified in the ModRedundant input or on the variable definition lines in the Z-matrix. For example:
1 2 H 0.55
The letter H indicates that a diagonal force constant is being specified for this coordinate and that its value is 0.55 Hartree/au2.
- Compute some or all of the Hessian numerically: You can ask the optimization program to compute part of the second derivative matrix numerically. In this case each specified variable will be stepped in only one direction, not both up and down as would be required for an accurate determination of force constants. The resulting second-derivatives are not as good as those determined by a frequency calculation but are fine for starting an optimization. Of course, this requires that the program do an extra gradient calculation for each specified variable. This procedure is requested by a flag (D) on the variable definition lines:
1 2 D 1 2 3 D
This input tells the program to do three points before taking the first optimization step: the usual first point, a geometry with the bond between atoms 1 and 2 incremented slightly, and a geometry with the angle between atoms 1, 2 and 3 incremented slightly. The program will estimate all force constants (on and off diagonal) for bond(1,2) and angle(1,2,3) from the three points. This option is only available with the Berny and EF algorithms.
The following options select methods for providing improved force constants:
ReadFC
Extract force constants from a checkpoint file. These will typically be the final approximate force constants from an optimization at a lower level, or (much better) the force constants computed correctly by a lower-level frequency calculation (the latter are greatly preferable to the former).
CalcFC
Specifies that the force constants be computed at the first point using the current method (available for the HF, CIS, MP2, CASSCF, DFT, and semi-empirical methods only).
RCFC
Specifies that the computed force constants in Cartesian coordinates (as opposed to internal) from a frequency calculation are to be read from the checkpoint file. Normally it is preferable to pick up the force constants already converted to internal coordinates as described above (ReadFC). However, a frequency calculation occasionally reveals that a molecule needs to distort to lower symmetry. In this case, the computed force constants in terms of the old internal coordinates cannot be used, and instead Opt=RCFC is used to read the Cartesian force constants and transform them. Note that Cartesian force constants are only available on the checkpoint file after a frequency calculation. You cannot use this option after an optimization dies because of a wrong number of negative eigenvalues in the approximate second derivative matrix. In the latter case, you may want to start from the most recent geometry and compute some derivatives numerically (see below). ReadCartesianFC is a synonym for RCFC.
CalcHFFC
Specifies that the analytic HF force constants are to be computed at the first point. CalcHFFC is used with MP2 optimizations, and it is equivalent to CalcFC for DFT methods, AM1, PM3, PM3MM, PM6 and PDDG.
CalcAll
Specifies that the force constants are to be computed at every point using the current method (available for the HF,CIS, MP2, CASSCF, DFT, and semi-empirical methods only). Note that vibrational frequency analysis is automatically done at the converged structure and the results of the calculation are archived as a frequency job.
RecalcFC=N
Do analytic second derivatives at step 1 and every Nth step thereafter during an optimization.
VCD
Calculate VCD intensities at each point of a Hartree-Fock or DFT Opt=CalcAll optimization.
NoRaman
Specifies that Raman intensities are not to be calculated at each point of a Hartree-Fock Opt=CalcAll job (since it includes a frequency analysis using the results of the final point of the optimization). The Raman intensities add 10-20% to the cost of each intermediate second derivative point. NoRaman is the default for methods other than Hartree-Fock.
StarOnly
Specifies that the specified force constants are to be estimated numerically but that no optimization is to be done. Note that this has nothing to do with computation of vibrational frequencies.
NewEstmFC
Estimate the force constants using a valence force field. This is the default.
EstmFC
Estimate the force constants using the old diagonal guesses. Only available for the Berny algorithm.
FCCards
Requests that read the energy (although value is not used), cartesian forces and force constants from the input stream, as written out by Punch=Derivatives. The format for this input is:
Energy | Format (D24.16) |
Cartesian forces | Lines of format (6F12.8) |
Force constants | Lines of format (6F12.8) |
The force constants are in lower triangular form: ((F(J,I),J=1,I),I=1,3Natoms), where 3Natoms is the number of Cartesian coordinates.
Convergence-Related Options
These options are available for the Berny algorithm only.
Tight
This option tightens the cutoffs on forces and step size that are used to determine convergence. An optimization with Opt=Tight will take several more steps than with the default cutoffs. For molecular systems with very small force constants (low frequency vibrational modes), this may be necessary to ensure adequate convergence and reliability of frequencies computed in a subsequent job step. This option can only be used with Berny optimizations. For DFT calculations, Int=UltraFine should be specified as well.
VeryTight
Extremely tight optimization convergence criteria. VTight is a synonym for VeryTight. For DFT calculations, Int=UltraFine should be specified as well.
EigenTest
EigenTest requests and NoEigenTest suppresses testing the curvature in Berny optimizations. The test is on by default only for transition states in internal (Z-matrix) or Cartesian coordinates, for which it is recommended. Occasionally, transition state optimizations converge even if the test is not passed, but NoEigenTest is only recommended for those with large computing budgets.
Expert
Relaxes various limits on maximum and minimum force constants and step sizes enforced by the Berny program. This option can lead to faster convergence but is quite dangerous. It is used by experts in cases where the forces and force constants are very different from typical molecules and Z-matrices, and sometimes in conjunction with Opt=CalcFC or Opt=CalcAll. NoExpert enforces the default limits and is the default.
Loose
Sets the optimization convergence criteria to a maximum step size of 0.01 au and an RMS force of 0.0017 au. These values are consistent with the Int(Grid=SG1) keyword, and may be appropriate for initial optimizations of large molecules using DFT methods which are intended to be followed by a full convergence optimization using the default (Fine) grid. It is not recommended for use by itself.
Algorithm-Related Options
GEDIIS
Use GEDIIS optimization algorithm. This is the default for minimizations when gradients are available.
RFO
Requests the Rational Function Optimization [Simons83] step during Berny optimizations. It is the default for transition state optimizations (Opt=TS). This was also the default algorithm for minimizations using gradients in Gaussian 03.
EF
Requests an eigenvalue-following algorithm [Simons83, Cerjan81, Banerjee85], which is useful only for methods without derivatives (for which it is the default). Available for both minima and transition states. and EigenvalueFollow are all synonyms for EF. When used with Opt=Z-Matrix, a maximum of 50 variables may be optimized.
ONIOM-Related Options
Micro
Use microiterations in ONIOM(MO:MM) optimizations. This is the default, with selection of L120 or L103 for the microiterations depending on whether electronic embedding is on or off. NoMicro forbids microiterations during ONIOM(MO:MM) optimizations. Mic120 says to use microiterations in L120 for ONIOM(MO:MM), even for mechanical embedding. This is the default for electronic embedding. Mic103 says to perform microiterations in L103 for ONIOM(MO:MM). It is the default for mechanical embedding, and it cannot be used with electronic embedding.
QuadMacro
Controls whether the coupled, quadratic macro step is used during ONIOM(MO:MM) geometry optimizations [Vreven06a]. NoQuadMacro is the default.
Coordinate System Selection Options
Redundant
Build an automatic set of redundant internal coordinates such as bonds, angles, and dihedrals from the current Cartesian coordinates or Z-Matrix values, using the old algorithm available in Gaussian 16. Perform the optimization using the Berny algorithm in these redundant internal coordinates. This is the default for methods for which analytic gradients are available.
Z-matrix
Perform the optimization with the Berny algorithm using internal coordinates [Schlegel82, Schlegel89, Schlegel95]. In this case, the keyword FOpt rather than Opt requests that the program verify that a full optimization is being done (i.e., that the variables including inactive variables are linearly independent and span the degrees of freedom allowed by the molecular symmetry). The POpt form requests a partial optimization in internal coordinates. It also suppresses the frequency analysis at the end of optimizations which include second derivatives at every point (via the CalcAll option). See Appendix C for details and examples of Z-matrix molecule specifications.
Cartesian
Requests that the optimization be performed in Cartesian coordinates, using the Berny algorithm. Note that the initial structure may be input using any coordinate system. No partial optimization or freezing of variables can be done with purely Cartesian optimizations; the mixed optimization format with all atoms specified via Cartesian lines in the Z-matrix can be used along with Opt=Z-matrix if these features are needed. When a Z-matrix without any variables is used for the molecule specification, and Opt=Z-matrix is specified, then the optimization will actually be performed in Cartesian coordinates. Note that a variety of other coordinate systems, such as distance matrix coordinates, can be constructed using the ModRedundant option.
Generalized Internal Coordinate (GIC) Options
GIC
Build an automatic set of redundant internal coordinates using the new GIC algorithm. Perform the optimization using the Berny algorithm in the GIC-type internal coordinates. Note that the coordinates generated with this option can be the same bonds, angles, and dihedrals generated by the default algorithm. However, these coordinates are internally stored and manipulated as the generalized ones (e.g., relevant analytical derivatives with respect to Cartesian coordinates displacements can be calculated automatically via an auto differentiation engine). The GICs are more flexible and, in principle, can be any combination of standard mathematical functions. Note that Geom=Checkpoint Opt=GIC option is equivalent to Geom=(Checkpoint,GIC).
AddGIC
Add, delete, or modify GIC-type internal coordinate definitions (including scan and constraint information) before performing the calculation using the new GIC algorithm. This option requires a separate input section following the geometry specification. When used in conjunction with QST2 or QST3, a GIC input section must follow each geometry specification. The syntax of the GIC input section is described in GIC Info. Note that Opt=(ModRedundant,GIC) is equivalent to Opt=AddGIC. Note that Geom=Checkpoint Opt=ReadAllGIC is equivalent to Geom=(Checkpoint, ReadAllGIC).
GICOld
Build an automatic set of redundant internal coordinates using the current default algorithm (as with the option Redundant) and then convert the coordinates into the GICs and treat them as such. Perform the optimization using the Berny algorithm in the GIC-type internal coordinates.
ReadAllGIC
Do not build any redundant internal coordinates by default. Instead, read the input stream for user-provided GIC definitions and create the coordinates. Perform the optimization using the Berny algorithm in the GIC-type internal coordinates. This option requires a separate GIC input section following the geometry specification. When used in conjunction with QST2 or QST3, a GIC input section must follow each geometry specification. The syntax of the GIC input section is described in the GIC Considerations tab.
Rarely Used Options
Path=M
In combination with either the QST2 or the QST3 option, requests the simultaneous optimization of a transition state and an M-point reaction path in redundant internal coordinates [Ayala97]. No coordinate may be frozen during this type of calculation.
If QST2 is specified, the title and molecule specification sections for both reactant and product structures are required as input as usual. The remaining M-2 points on the path are then generated by linear interpolation between the reactant and product input structures. The highest energy structure becomes the initial guess for the transition structure. Each point is optimized to lie in the reaction path and the highest point is optimized toward the transition structure.
If QST3 is specified, a third set of title and molecule specification sections must be included in the input as a guess for the transition state as usual. The remaining M-3 points on the path are generated by two successive linear interpolations, first between the reactant and transition structure and then between the transition structure and product. By default, the central point is optimized to the transition structure, regardless of the ordering of the energies. In this case, M must be an odd number so that the points on the path may be distributed evenly between the two sides of the transition structure.
In the output for a simultaneous optimization calculation, the predicted geometry for the optimized transition structure is followed by a list of all M converged reaction path structures.
The treatment of the input reactant and product structures is controlled by other options: OptReactant, OptProduct, BiMolecular.
Note that the SCF wavefunction for structures in the reactant valley may be quite different from that of structures in the product valley. Guess=Always can be used to prevent the wavefunction of a reactant-like structure from being used as a guess for the wavefunction of a product-like structure.
OptReactant
Specifies that the input structure for the reactant in a path optimization calculation (Opt=Path) should be optimized to a local minimum. This is the default. NoOptReactant retains the input structure as a point that is already on the reaction path (which generally means that it should have been previously optimized to a minimum). OptReactant may not be combined with BiMolecular.
BiMolecular
Specifies that the reactants or products are bimolecular and that the input structure will be used as an anchor point in an Opt=Path optimization. This anchor point will not appear as one of the M points on the path. Instead, it will be used to control how far the reactant side spreads out from the transition state. By default, this option is off.
OptProduct
Specifies that the input structure for the product in a path optimization calculation (Opt=Path) should be optimized to a local minimum. This is the default. NoOptProduct retains the input structure as a point that is already on the reaction path (which generally means that it should have been previously optimized to a minimum). OptProduct may not be combined with BiMolecular.
Linear
Linear requests and NoLinear suppresses the linear search in Berny optimizations. The default is to use the linear search whenever possible.
TrustUpdate
TrustUpdate requests and NoTrustUpdate suppresses dynamic update of the trust radius in Berny optimizations. The default is to update for minima.
Newton
Use the Newton-Raphson step rather than the RFO step during Berny optimizations.
NRScale
NRScale requests that if the step size in the Newton-Raphson step in Berny optimizations exceeds the maximum, then it is to be scaled back. NoNRScale causes a minimization on the surface of the sphere of maximum step size [Golab83]. Scaling is the default for transition state optimizations and minimizing on the sphere is the default for minimizations.
Steep
Requests steepest descent instead of Newton-Raphson steps during Berny optimizations. This is only compatible with Berny local minimum optimizations. It may be useful when starting far from the minimum, but is unlikely to reach full convergence.
UpdateMethod=keyword
Specifies the Hessian update method. Keyword is one of: Powell, BFGS, PDBFGS, ND2Corr, OD2Corr, D2CorrBFGS, Bofill, D2CMix and None.
HFError
Assume that numerical errors in the energy and forces are those appropriate for HF and post-SCF calculations (1.0D-07 and 1.0D-07, respectively). This is the default for optimizations using those methods and also for semi-empirical methods.
FineGridError
Assume that numerical errors in the energy and forces are those appropriate for DFT calculations using the default grid (1.0D-07 and 1.0D-06, respectively). This is the default for optimizations using a DFT method and using the default grid (or specifying Int=FineGrid).
SG1Error
Assume that numerical errors in the energy and forces are those appropriate for DFT calculations using the SG-1 grid (1.0D-07 and 1.0D-05, respectively). This is the default for optimizations using a DFT method and Int(Grid=SG1Grid).
Availability
Analytic gradients are available for the HF, all DFT methods, CIS, MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ), CID, CISD, CCD, CCSD, QCISD, CASSCF, and all semi-empirical methods.
The Tight, VeryTight, Expert, Eigentest and EstmFC options are available for the Berny algorithm only.
Optimizations of large molecules which have many very low frequency vibrational modes with DFT will often proceed more reliably when a larger DFT integration grid is requested (Int=UltraFine).
Examples
Output from Optimization Jobs. The string GradGradGrad… delimits the output from the Berny optimization procedures. On the first, initialization pass, the program prints a table giving the initial values of the variables to be optimized. For optimizations in redundant internal coordinates, all coordinates in use are displayed in the table (not merely those present in the molecule specification section):
GradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGrad
Berny optimization. The opt. algorithm is identified by the header format & this line.
Initialization pass.
----------------------------
! Initial Parameters !
! (Angstroms and Degrees) !
-------------------- ----------------------
! Name Definition Value Derivative Info. !
--------------------------------------------------------------------
! R1 R(2,1) 1. estimate D2E/DX2 !
! R2 R(3,1) 1. estimate D2E/DX2 !
! A1 A(2,1,3) 104.5 estimate D2E/DX2 !
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The manner in which the initial second derivative are provided is indicated under the heading Derivative Info. In this case the second derivatives will be estimated.
Each subsequent step of the optimization is delimited by lines like these:
GradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGradGrad Berny optimization. Search for a local minimum. Step number 4 out of a maximum of 20
Once the optimization completes, the final structure is displayed:
Optimization completed. -- Stationary point found. ---------------------------- ! Optimized Parameters ! ! (Angstroms and Degrees) ! -------------------- -------------------- ! Name Definition Value Derivative Info. ! -------------------------------------------------------------------- ! R1 R(2,1) 0.9892 -DE/DX = 0.0002 ! ! R2 R(3,1) 0.9892 -DE/DX = 0.0002 ! ! A1 A(2,1,3) 100.004 -DE/DX = 0.0001 ! --------------------------------------------------------------------
The redundant internal coordinate definitions are given in the second column of the table. The numbers in parentheses refer to the atoms within the molecule specification. For example, the variable R1, defined as R(2,1), specifies the bond length between atoms 1 and 2. The energy for the optimized structure will be found in the output from the final optimization step, which precedes this table in the output file.
Compound Jobs. Optimizations are commonly followed by frequency calculations at the optimized structure. To facilitate this procedure, the Opt keyword may be combined with Freq in the route section of an input file, and this combination will automatically generate a two-step job.
It is also common to follow an optimization with a single point energy calculation at a higher level of theory. The following route section automatically performs an HF/6-31G(d,p) optimization followed by an MP4/6-31G(d,p) single point energy calculation :
# MP4/6-31G(d,p)//HF/6-31G(d,p) Test
Note that the Opt keyword is not required in this case. However, it may be included if setting any of its options is desired.
Modifying Redundant Internal Coordinates. The following input file illustrates the method for modifying redundant internal coordinates within an input file:
# HF/6-31G(d) Opt=ModRedun Test | |
Opt job | |
0,1 | |
C1 0.000 0.000 0.000 | |
C2 0.000 0.000 1.505 | |
O3 1.047 0.000 -0.651 | |
H4 -1.000 -0.006 -0.484 | |
H5 -0.735 0.755 1.898 | |
H6 -0.295 -1.024 1.866 | |
O7 1.242 0.364 2.065 | |
H8 1.938 -0.001 1.499 | |
3 8 | Adds hydrogen bond (but not angles or dihedrals). |
2 1 3 | Adds C-C-O angle. |
This structure is acetaldehyde with an OH substituted for one of the hydrogens in the methyl group; the first input line for ModRedundant creates a hydrogen bond between that hydrogen atom and the oxygen atom in the carbonyl group. Note that this adds only the bond between these two atoms The associated angles and dihedral angles could be added as well using the B action code:
3 8 B
Displaying the Value of a Desired Coordinate. The second input line for ModRedundant specifies the C-C=O bond angle, ensuring that its value will be displayed in the summary structure table for each optimization step.
Using Wildcards in Redundant Internal Coordinates. A distance matrix coordinate system can be activated using the following input:
* * B | Define all bonds between pairs of atoms |
* * * K | Remove all other redundant internal coordinates |
The following input defines partial distance matrix coordinates to connect only the closest layers of atoms:
* * B 1.1 | Define all bonds between atoms within 1.1 Å |
* * * K | Remove all other redundant internal coordinates |
The following input sets up an optimization in redundant internal coordinates in which atoms N1 through Nn are frozen (such jobs may require the NoSymm keyword). Note that the lines containing the B action code will generate Cartesian coordinates for all of the coordinates involving the specified atom since only one atom number is specified:
N1 B | Generate Cartesian coordinates involving atom N1 |
… | |
Nn B | Generate Cartesian coordinates involving atom Nn |
* F | Freeze all Cartesian coordinates |
The following input defines special “spherical” internal coordinates appropriate for molecules like C60 by removing all dihedral angles from the redundant internal coordinates:
* * * * R | Remove all dihedral angles |
Additional examples are found in the section on relaxed PES scans below.
Performing Partial Optimizations. The following job illustrates the method for freezing variables during an optimization:
# B3LYP/6-31G(d) Opt=ReadOpt | |
Partial optimization of Fe2S2 | |
cluster with phenylthiolates. | |
-2,1 | |
Fe 15.2630 -1.0091 7.0068 | |
S 14.8495 1.1490 7.0431 | |
Fe 17.0430 1.0091 7.0068 | |
S 17.4565 -1.1490 7.0431 | |
S 14.3762 -2.1581 8.7983 | |
C 12.5993 -2.1848 8.6878 | |
… | |
C 14.8285 -3.8823 3.3884 | |
H 14.3660 -3.3149 2.7071 | |
noatoms atoms=1-4 | ReadOpt input. |
The central cluster (the first four atoms) will be optimized while the phenylthiolates are frozen.
Restarting an Optimization. A failed optimization may be restarted from its checkpoint file by simply repeating the route section of the original job, adding the Restart option to the Opt keyword. For example, this route section restarts a B3LYP/6-31G(d) Berny optimization to a second-order saddle point:
%Chk=saddle2 # Opt=(TS,Restart,MaxCyc=50) Test
The model chemistry and starting geometry are retrieved from the checkpoint file. Options specifying the optimization type and procedure are required in the route section for the restart job (e.g., TS in the preceding example). Some parameter-setting options can be omitted to use the same values are for the original job, or they can be modified for the restarted job, such as MaxCycle in the example. Note that you must include CalcFC to compute the Hessian at the first point of the restarted job. Second derivatives are computed only when this option is present in the route section of the restarted job, regardless of whether it was specified for the original job.
Reading a Structure from the Checkpoint File. Redundant internal coordinate structures may be retrieved from the checkpoint file with Geom=Checkpoint as usual. The read-in structure may be altered by specifying Geom=ModRedundant as well; modifications have a form identical to the input for Opt=ModRedundant:
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] [Action [Params]] [[Min] Max]]
Locating a Transition Structure with the STQN Method. The QST2 option initiates a search for a transition structure connecting specific reactants and products. The input for this option has this general structure (blank lines are omitted):
# HF/6-31G(d) Opt=QST2 | # HF/6-31G(d) (Opt=QST2,ModRedun) |
First title section | First title section |
Molecule specification for the reactants | Molecule specification for the reactants |
Second title section | ModRedundant input for the reactants |
Molecule specification for the products | Second title section |
Molecule specification for the products | |
ModRedundant input for the products (optional) |
Note that each molecule specification is preceded by its own title section (and separating blank line). If the ModRedundant option is specified, then each molecule specification is followed by any desired modifications to the redundant internal coordinates.
Gaussian will automatically generate a starting structure for the transition structure midway between the reactant and product structures, and then perform an optimization to a first-order saddle point.
The QST3 option allows you to specify a better initial structure for the transition state. It requires the two title and molecule specification sections for the reactants and products as for QST2 and also additional, third title and molecule specification sections for the initial transition state geometry (along with the usual blank line separators), as well as three corresponding modifications to the redundant internal coordinates if the ModRedundant option is specified. The program will then locate the transition structure connecting the reactants and products closest to the specified initial geometry.
The optimized structure found by QST2 or QST3 appears in the output in a format similar to that for other types of geometry optimizations:
---------------------------- ! Optimized Parameters ! ! (Angstroms and Degrees) ! --------------------- ---------------------- ! Name Definition Value Reactant Product Derivative Info. ! ------------------------------------------------------------------- ! R1 R(2,1) 1.0836 1.083 1.084 -DE/DX = 0. ! ! R2 R(3,1) 1.4233 1.4047 1.4426 -DE/DX = -0. ! ! R3 R(4,1) 1.4154 1.4347 1.3952 -DE/DX = -0. ! ! R4 R(5,3) 1.3989 1.3989 1.3984 -DE/DX = 0. ! ! R5 R(6,3) 1.1009 1.0985 1.0995 -DE/DX = 0. ! ! … ! -------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to listing the optimized values, the table includes those for the reactants and products.
Performing a Relaxed Potential Energy Surface Scan. The Opt=ModRedundant option may also be used to perform a relaxed potential energy surface (PES) scan. Like the facility provided by Scan, a relaxed PES scan steps over a rectangular grid on the PES involving selected internal coordinates. It differs from Scan in that a constrained geometry optimization is performed at each point.
Relaxed PES scans are available only for the Berny algorithm. If any scanning variable breaks symmetry during the calculation, then you must include NoSymm in the route section of the job, since it may fail with an error.
Redundant internal coordinates specified with the Opt=ModRedundant option may be scanned using the S code letter: N1 N2 [N3 [N4]] S steps step-size. For example, this input adds a bond between atoms 2 and 3, specifying three scan steps of 0.05 Å each:
2 3 S 3 0.05
Wildcards in the ModRedundant input may also be useful in setting up relaxed PES scans. For example, the following input is appropriate for a potential energy surface scan involving the N1-N2-N3-N4 dihedral angle:
N1 N2 N3 N4 S 20 2.0 | Specify a relaxed PES scan of 20 steps in 2° increments |
Examples of Using GICs
Basic GIC input. Here is an example of using the generalized internal coordinates defined by the user from scratch for the geometry optimization of the water molecule.
# HF opt=readallgic Title 0 1 O 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 H 0.0000 0.0000 1.3112 H 1.0354 0.0000 -0.6225 R(1,2) R(1,3) HOH=A(2,1,3)
The atomic indexes 1, 2, and 3 refer to the oxygen atom, the first and the second hydrogen atom, respectively. The first and the second expression define the O-H bonds, and the third one defines the H-O-H valence angle (with the user-provided label “HOH”). An excerpt of the output with a table containing the initial values of the GICs is shown below.
---------------------------- ! Initial Parameters ! ! (Angstroms and Degrees) ! -------------------------- -------------------------- ! Name Definition Value Derivative Info. ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ! R1 R(1,2) 1.3112 estimate D2E/DX2 ! ! R2 R(1,3) 1.2081 estimate D2E/DX2 ! ! HOH A(2,1,3) 121.015 estimate D2E/DX2 ! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that the labels “R1” and “R2” above were assigned by default. The coordinates R1=R(1,2) and R2=R(1,3) are parsed as pure distances and given here in Angstroms, and the HOH=A(2,1,3) is a pure valence angle in degrees.
# HF opt=readallgic Title 0 1 O 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 H 0.0000 0.0000 1.3112 H 1.0354 0.0000 -0.6225 OHSym1=(R(1,2)+R(1,3))/sqrt(2) OHSym2=(R(1,2)-R(1,3))/sqrt(2) HOH=A(2,1,3)
The first and the second expression in the example above define the symmetrized O-H bonds, and the third one is the H-O-H valence angle.
---------------------------- ! Initial Parameters ! ! (Angstroms and Degrees) ! -------------------------- -------------------------- ! Name Definition Value Derivative Info. ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ! OHSym1 GIC-1 3.3664 estimate D2E/DX2 ! ! OHSym2 GIC-2 0.1377 estimate D2E/DX2 ! ! HOH A(2,1,3) 121.015 estimate D2E/DX2 ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: GIC-type coordinates are in arbitrary units.
The coordinates OHSym1 and OHSym2 are parsed as generic GICs and therefore given here in arbitrary units. The units are actually Bohrs in this case because the 2-1/2 factor is taken as dimensionless and the values of R(1,2) and R(1,3) are taken in Bohrs.
# HF opt=readallgic Title 0 1 O H 1 1.3 H 1 1.2 2 120. R12=SQRT[{X(2)-X(1)}^2+{Y(2)-Y(1)}^2+{Z(2)-Z(1)}^2] R13=SQRT[{X(3)-X(1)}^2+{Y(3)-Y(1)}^2+{Z(3)-Z(1)}^2] A0(Inactive)=DotDiff(2,1,3,1)/{R12*R13} A213=ArcCos(A0)
The GIC input section above defines two bond distances and one valence angle expressed via Cartesian coordinates. The coordinate A0 is defined as the dot-product (DotDiff) of the vectors R→12 and R→13 divided by the product of their lengths, and it is selected as “inactive” (i.e., excluded from the geometry optimization). An excerpt of the output with a table containing the initial values of the GICs is shown below.
---------------------------- ! Initial Parameters ! ! (Angstroms and Degrees) ! -------------------------- -------------------------- ! Name Definition Value Derivative Info. ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ! R12 GIC-1 2.4566 estimate D2E/DX2 ! ! R13 GIC-2 2.2677 estimate D2E/DX2 ! ! A213 GIC-3 2.0944 estimate D2E/DX2 ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: GIC-type coordinates are in arbitrary units.
The values of R12, R13, and the dot-product are calculated using the Cartesian coordinates given in Bohrs. The GIC arbitrary units are Bohrs (for R12 and R13) and radians (for A213).
GIC considerations
The options that do not mention GIC and can be used with the Opt keyword should work as described—except for NoFreeze, which should not be combined with any GIC-related option. In the latter case, use the UnFreezeAll flag in the GIC input section.
This section discusses specifying generalized internal coordinates (GICs) in Gaussian input files. GICs have many potential uses: defining additional coordinates whose values are reported during geometry optimizations, freezing various structural parameters during the optimization of a molecular system, specifying parameters over which to perform a scan, defining constraints for geometry optimizations based on structural parameters or complex relationships between them, requesting calculation of parts of the Hessian, and other purposes.
The GIC input section is separated from the earlier input by a blank line. It has one or more lines containing coordinate definitions, expressions or standalone options. Here is a simple GIC input section for water illustrating some of the possible features:
R(1,2) Define a bond length coordinate for atoms 1 and 2 Bond2=R[1,3] Define another bond length coordinate named Bond2 HOH(freeze)=A(2,1,3) Define an optimization constraint: a bond angle coordinate named HOH (∠2-1-3)
For an optimization, these coordinates will result in the bond angle remaining fixed at its initial value and the two bond distances being optimized.
The basic form of a coordinate is the following:
label(options)=expression
All of the components are optional. In the preceding examples, all components were present only in the third line. The first line contained only a coordinate expression, while the second line also contained a label without options. Note that options may also be placed following the expression:
HOH=A(2,1,3) Freeze
Labels are user-assigned identifiers for the coordinate. They are not case sensitive. Labels many contain letters and number, but must begin with a letter. If no label is specified, a generic one will be assigned by the program (e.g., R1, R2, A1, etc.). A parenthesized, comma-separated list of options can be included following the label if desired. Note that square brackets or braces may be substituted for parentheses anywhere in a coordinate definition.
Structural Parameters
Coordinates are defined by expressions. The simplest expressions simply identify a specific structural parameter within the molecule, using the following constructs. Note that an asterisk may be used as a wildcard for any atom number (see the examples).
R(i,j)
Define a bond coordinate between atoms i and j. B, Bond and Stretch are synonyms for R.
A(i,j,k)
Define a non-linear angle coordinate involving atoms i, j and k where the angle vertex is at atom j. Angle and Bend are synonyms for A.
D(i,j,k,l)
Define a dihedral angle between the plane containing atoms i, j and k and the plane containing atoms j, k and l. Dihedral and Torsion are synonyms for D.
L(i,j,k,l,M)
Define the linear bend coordinate involving atoms i, j and k where the angle vertex is at atom j. Linear and LinearBend are synonyms for L.
A linear bend definition has two components, indicated by M values of -1 and -2 for the first and second components, respectively (no other values are permitted). A linear bend is specified by defining its two orthogonal directions. These can be indicated in two ways:
- For a nonlinear molecule with more than 3 atoms, a fourth atom which does not form a linear angle with i, j and k in any combination can be used. In this case, l can be set to its atom number. For example, the following may be used to specify a linear bend involving atoms 1, 2 and 3 using atom 6 to determine the two orthogonal directions:
L(1,2,3,6,-1) L(1,2,3,6,-2)
If l is set to -4, then the fourth atom will be determined automatically based on the molecular geometry.
- The other method is to project the linear bend onto one of the coordinate system’s axial planes: the values of -1, -2 and -3 for l specify the YZ, XZ and XY planes (respectively). The value 0 may also be used to request that the appropriate plane be determined automatically:
L(1,2,3,0,-1) L(1,2,3,0,-2)
X(i)
Define the x Cartesian coordinate for atom i. Cartesian(i,-1) and Cartesian(i,X) are synonyms, and Cartesian may be abbreviated as Cart.
Y(i)
Define the y Cartesian coordinate for atom i. Cartesian(i,-2) and Cartesian(i,Y) are synonyms, and Cartesian may be abbreviated as Cart.
Z(i)
Define the z Cartesian coordinate for atom i. Cartesian(i,-3) and Cartesian(i,Z) are synonyms, and Cartesian may be abbreviated as Cart.
XCntr(atom-list)
YCntr(atom-list)
ZCntr(atom-list)
Define x, y or z Cartesian coordinate for the geometric center (centroid) of a molecular fragment that contains specified atoms. The atom list is a comma-separated list of atom numbers and/or ranges. For example, XCntr(1,12-15,27) defines the x coordinate of the fragment containing atoms 1, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 27. If the atom list is omitted, it defaults to the entire molecule.
DotDiff(i,j,k,l)
Define the dot product (a·b) of the two Cartesian coordinate difference vectors a and b for atoms i, j, k and l determined as a = (Xi–Xj, Yi–Yj, Zi–Zj) and b = (Xk–Xl, Yk–Yl, Zk–Zl).
Compound Expressions
Complex expressions may be constructed by combining multiple items using one or more mathematical operations. The argument(s) A and B can be the labels of a previously defined coordinate, a valid GIC expression or even constants (integer or floating-point). The operation names are not case sensitive. The following operations are available:
- Square root: SQRT(A).
- Power of e: EXP(A) for eA.
- Trigonometric functions: SIN(A), COS(A), TAN(A).
- Inverse cosine: ARCCOS(A).
- Addition: A+B
- Subtraction: A–B
- Multiplication: A*B
- Division: A/B
- Exponentiation: A**n for An (n is an integer). The form A^n is also accepted.
Here are some simple examples which define symmetrized OH bonds in water:
R12(inactive)=B(1,2) R13(inactive)=B(1,3) RSym = (R12 + R13)/SQRT(2) RASym = [Bond(1,2) - Bond(1,3)]/SQRT(2)
The first two coordinates are set as inactive since they are intermediates not intended to be used in the optimization. Line 3 illustrates an expression using previously defined labels, while line 4 shows the use of literal expressions with operators. Note that the argument to the square root function is the constant 2.
Options
A comma separated list of options can follow the coordinate label, enclosed in parentheses. Alternatively, options may follow the expression, separated from it and from one another by spaces. All options are case insensitive.
For the purposes of geometry optimizations, a coordinate can be designated as:
- Active: The coordinate is part of the list of internal coordinates used in the geometry optimzation. In contrast, Inactive coordinates are not included in the set used for the geometry optimization. By default, active coordinates are unfrozen: allowed to change value (see the next bullet).
- Frozen: A coordinate whose value is held constant during the course of a geometry optimization. The values of active, unfrozen coordinates change during a geometry optimization. The frozen or unfrozen status of inactive coordinates is irrelevant during an optimization.
In the descriptions that follow, coordinates that “already exist” refers to previously-defined coordinates with the same label or the same value expression. Such coordinates may have been defined earlier in the input stream or retrieved from the checkpoint file from a previous job.
Active
If the specified coordinate does not already exist, build a new coordinate defined by the given expression, and flag it as active and unfrozen. If the coordinate was previously defined, then flag it as active and unfrozen (whatever its previous status). It is the default. Activate, Add and Build are synonyms for Active. May be abbreviated to A when specified following the expression.
Frozen
Build a coordinate defined by the expression if it does not exist, and flag the coordinate as active for geometry optimizations and freeze it at the current value.
Freeze is a synonym for Frozen. May be abbreviated to F when specified following the expression.
Inactive
If the coordiante does not already exist, build a new coordinate defined by the expression and flag it inactive. If the coordinate with the given label or for the given expression has been already built and flagged as active (frozen or unfrozen), then remove it from the geometry optimization by flagging it as inactive. Remove is a synonym for Inactive. May be abbreviated to R when specified following the expression.
Kill
Remove the coordinate from the list of internal coordinates used in geometry optimization along with any dependent coordinates by flagging all of them as inactive. The dependent coordinates include any coordinate that depends on the same atoms as the given coordinate. For example, R(1,5) Kill will result in removing the coordinate R(1,5)—the internuclear distance between atoms 1 and 5—as well as the valence angles, dihedral angles and any other coordinate that depends on the Cartesian coordinates of atoms 1 and 5 in combination with other atoms in the molecule. RemoveAll is a synonym for Kill. May be abbreviated to K when specified following the expression.
PrintOnly
Include the initial value of the coordinate in the starting geometry in the Gaussian output file, and then flag it as inactive.
Modify
A label must be included in the coordinate specification for this option. It replaces the old coordinate with the specified label with the new expression, and flags the newly modified coordinate as active and unfrozen.
Diff
Calculate numerical second derivatives for the row and column of the initial Hessian corresponding to this coordinate. May be abbreviated to D when specified following the expression.
FC=x
Change the diagonal element for the given coordinate in the initial Hessian to x, a floating-point number in atomic units. ForceConstant is a synonym for FC.
Value=x
Set the initial value for the given internal coordinate to x, a floating point value. The units for the value are those of the Gaussian program, as defined by the Units keyword (Angstroms or degrees by default). The current Cartesian coordinates will be adjusted to match this value as closely as possible. This option should be used cautiously and sparingly. It is far easier and more reliable to set the initial molecular structure as desired in a graphical environment like GaussView.
StepSize=x,NSteps=n
These options are used to specify a relaxed potential energy surface scan in which the coordinate is incremented by x a total of n times, and a constrained optimization is perfromed from each resulting starting geometry. x should be a positive floating-point number in atomic units, N should be an integer >1. When these options follow the expression, the comma separating them should be replaced by a space.
Min=min,Max=max
This option is used in combination with Active, Freeze or Inactive. It adds, freezes or makes inactive the coordinate when its value satisfies the condition min≤value≤max. min and max are floating-point numbers in the units defined by the Units (Angstroms or degrees by default). If Min or Max is omitted, the condition becomes value≤max or min≥min respectively. When these options follow the expression, the comma should be replaced by a space.
action OnlyIf condition
action IfNot condition
These options provide conditional coordinate operations. They can only be placed following the expression defining the current coordinate. Action is one of Active, Freeze or Inactive. The condition is a label or expression for another coordinate. The specified action will be performed for the current coordinate if the coordinate referred to in condition is active for OnlyIf or inactive for IfNot. Note that the conditional test applies only to the action specified preceding the option and not to other options that may be present in the coordinate specification.
Standalone Options
The following options are independent of coordinate definitions and apply globally. They should be specified alone on their input line.
FreezeAll
Freeze all internal coordinate previously added as active.
UnFreezeAll
Unfreeze all internal coordinates previously added as active frozen.
RemoveAll
Remove/inactivate all internal coordinate previously added as active (frozen or unfrozen).
Atom i action
Apply the specified action to the Cartesian coordinates of atom i. If i is an asterisk, then the action applies to all atoms. Action is one of Active, Freeze, UnFreeze, Remove (make inactive), RemoveAll and XYZOnly. These options are as defined above; XYZOnly says to remove any internal coordinates that depend on atom i but to add/retain the coordinates of that atom. The default action is Active.
Examples
The following example manipulates some automatically-generated coordinates, defines some new ones, and then uses wildcards to remove coordinates related to specific atoms:
R(5,9) freeze Freeze bond distance R(5,9). R(8,9) Add a new active coordinate R(8,9) with a default label. Ang189 = A(1,8,9) Add a new active coordinate A(1,8,9) labeled Ang189. R10(remove) Remove a coordinate labeled R10. Dih6123(remove) = D(6,1,2,3) If D(6,1,2,3) exists, then remove the coordinate. Dis79(freeze) = R(7,9) Freeze the coordinate R(7,9): if it is new, then label it Dis79; if it already exists, retain the old label. G1 = (R16+R19)*0.529177 Add a new coordinate labeled G1. Ang189a(modify)=cos(g2)*57.29577951 Change the definition of coordinate Ang189a. R(11,*) remove Remove distances between atom 11 and any other atom. D(*,1,17,*) remove Remove any dihedral built around the 1-17 bond.
Note that if a specified coordinate already exists, then an entry adding it will result in an error (e.g., lines 1-3 above).
The following example first defines the centroids of two fragments. Then, it defines the interfragment distance as an optimization coordinate:
Define the center of Fragment 1, but don't include it in the optimization. XC1(Inactive)=XCntr(1-10) YC1(Inactive)=YCntr(1-10) ZC1(Inactive)=ZCntr(1-10) Define the center of Fragment 2, but don't include it in the optimization. XC2(Inactive)=XCntr(11-21) YC2(Inactive)=YCntr(11-21) ZC2(Inactive)=ZCntr(11-21) Define the distance F1-F2 and include it in the optimization. Its value will be reported in Å: F1F2=sqrt[(XC1-XC2)^2+(YC1-YC2)^2+(ZC1-ZC2)^2]*0.529177
The following example requests a relaxed PES scan over the same coordinate:
F1F2(NSteps=10,StepSize=0.2)
The following example removes an angle coordinate generated by default if ≥179.9°, substituting a linear bend:
A(1,2,3) Remove Min=179.9 Remove angle coordinate if too large. L(1,2,3,0,-1) Add IfNot A(1,2,3) Add linear bend only if the angle coordinate not active. L(1,2,3,0,-2) Add IfNot A(1,2,3)
The following example removes an angle coordinate if it is ≤ the specified value, setting the corresponding force constant is set to 0.2 au. The latter applies whenever it is needed: as the initial force constant and the force constant to use should be variable be reactivated. The second line specifies the force constant for a bond coordinate:
A(1,2,3) Remove Min=3.139847 ForceConstant=0.2 R(1,2) FC=0.5
The following example sets the force constants for various coordinates. It also inactivates bond angle coordinates ≥ 179.8°:
R(1,*) FC=0.8 D(*,4,5,*) FC=0.4 A(*,1,*) FC=0.5 A(*,*,*) R Min=179.8
Limitations of GICs in the Current Implementation
In the current implementation, GICs can be successfully used for many purposes including optimization constraints and PES scans. However, there are potential problems with active composite coordinates including multiple dihedral angles. In general, coordinates comprised of combinations of bond distances and bond angles should behave well. Simple dihedral angles are also welll supported. Complex expressions involving multiple dihedral angles are acceptable for frozen coordinates and for PES scans. However, they should be avoided as active optimization coordinates.
In a non-GIC optimization, or one using GICs with only regular dihedrals, then the program is careful about the periodicity of these coordinates. For example, in deciding whether a step in the geometry is too big and needs to be scaled back, it recognizes that a change in value from 1 degree to 359 degrees is really a change of -2 degrees rather than 358 degrees. Similarly, in numerically differentiating the forces in order to update the Hessian, displacements between geometries in internal coordinates are needed, and the periodicity is accounted for. A problem can arise when a GIC is a combination of parts for which such periodicity is important, typically, combinations of multiple dihedral angles. For example, consider these GICs:
D1 = D(1,2,3,4) D2 = D(5,6,7,8) V1 = D1 + 2*D2
D1 and D2 are dihedral angles, but they are intermediates and are not used as variables in the optimization. Their periodicity is not currently recognized in the composite coordinate V1. Suppose they have values of 1 and 2 degrees at one geometry and 1 and 359 degress at the next. The change in the optimization variable V1 should be 0 + 2*(-3) = -6 degrees, but it is actually 0 + 2*(357) = 714 degrees, which looks like an enormous change. This will result in the optimization algorithm performing very poorly. V1 isn’t a simple periodic function; it is necessary to apply periodicity to its component parts as it is computed, which is not done in the current GIC implementation.
GIC Units in Gaussian Output
The values of the GICs defined as pure distances and angles (including valence angles, linear bends and dihedral angles/torsions) are computed from the Cartesian coordinates in atomic units (Bohrs) and stored internally in Bohrs and radians. However, for the user’s convenience, they are expressed as usual in Angstroms and degrees in the Gaussian output. In the case of a generic GIC (i.e., when the GIC is not a pure Cartesian coordinate, bond distance or angle), the GIC value is computed as a function of Cartesian coordinates and bond distances in Bohrs and angles in radians, combined with optional constants in user-defined units. Such generic GIC values (labeled as GIC) are computed, stored and output in these same units: i.e., if the GIC is a combination of bonds or a combination of valence angles, then the arbitrary units become Bohrs for the bonds and radians for the angles.
Use of ModRedundant Format Input
Modifications to the GICs can be read in using the ModRedundant format from the current internal coordinate algorithm. However, the old format is only available with the GICs that include only pure bond distances, bond angles or torsion angles. In addition, the old format and the new GIC format described above cannot be mixed together in the same input section.
Last updated on: 23 April 2020. [G16 Rev. C.01]
See General Internal Coordinates for more information on GICs.
Last updated on: 9 February 2024. [G16 Rev. C.01]