Opt

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 [Foresman96b]. For a review article on optimization and related subjects, see [Hratchian05a].

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. TS should not be specified 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. TS should not be specified 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 TO MODIFY THE INITIAL GEOMETRY

ModRedundant
Add, delete or modify redundant internal coordinate definitions (including scan and constraint information). 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]]] [[+=]value] [A | F] [[min] max]]
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] [[+=]value] B [[min] max]]
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] K|R [[min] max]]
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] [[+=]value] D [[min] max]]
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] [[+=]value] H diag-elem [[min] max]]
[Type] N1 [N2 [N3 [N4]]] [[+=]value] S nsteps stepsize [[min] max]]

ReadFreeze
Read an input section modifying which atoms are to be optimized or frozen. The atom list is specified in a separate input section (terminated by a blank line). The initial atom list contains those atoms which are frozen (i.e., would not be optimized) based on the settings within the molecule specification or structure read-in from the checkpoint file.

The input section uses the following format:

atoms=list [notatoms=list]

atoms=3-6,17 notatoms=5              Adds atoms 3, 4, 6 and 17 to the atom list.
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 non-hydrogens among atoms 1-5,
                                     and atoms 8-10 regardless of element type.

1,3,5 7  Adds atoms 1, 3, 5 and 7.

noatoms atoms=1-100 notatoms=H

NoFreeze
Activates (unfreezes) all variables (normally used with Geom=Check).

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/1000 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/1000 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/1000 Hartree/Bohr². RHarmonic is a synonym for this option.

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.

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, MP2, CASSCF, DFT, and semi-empirical methods only).

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.

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 (CalcFC). 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.

CalcAll
Specifies that the force constants are to be computed at every point using the current method (available for the HF, 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.

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.

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 3 104.5
  1 2 1.05 H 0.55
  

  The first line specifies that the angle formed by atoms 1, 2 and 3 is to start at the value 104.5°, and the second line sets the initial value of the bond between atoms 1 and 2 to 1.05 Angstroms. The letter H on the second line 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 1.0 D
  2 3 1.5
  1 2 3 104.5 D 
  2 3 4 110.0
  

  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 use the default diagonal force constants for the other two coordinates and 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.

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.

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 [Cerjan81, Simons83, 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
Perform the optimization using the Berny algorithm in 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.

OPTIONS FOR INTERPRETING NUMERICAL ERROR

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).

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).

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.

RELATED KEYWORDS

IRC, IRCMax, Scan, Force. Frequency

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

The following input rotates the group about the N2-N3 bond by 10 degrees:

* N2 N3 *  +=10.0   Add 10.0 to the values to dihedrals involving N2-N3 bond

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=ReadFreeze 

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             ReadFreeze input.

The central cluster (the first four atoms) will be held fixed while the phenylthiolates are optimized.

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=(Restart,MaxCyc=50) Test

Note that the only input required is Opt=Restart (although we also increase the maximum number of steps). The model chemistry, starting geometry and other optimization options (e.g., Saddle=2) are retrieved from the checkpoint file.

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]]] [[+=]Value] [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):

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, or it will 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]] [[+=]value] S steps step-size. For example, this input adds a bond between atoms 2 and 3, setting its initial value to 1.0 Å, and specifying three scan steps of 0.05 Å each:

2 3 1.0 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. Note that all other dihedrals around the bond should be removed:

* N2 N3 * R           Remove all dihedrals involving the N2-N3 bond
N1 N2 N3 N4 S 20 2.0  Specify a relaxed PES scan of 20 steps in 2° increments

Cartesian coordinates can also include scan specifications:

X atom S x-steps x-size y-steps y-size z-steps z-size

For example, the following ModRedundant input performs a relaxed potential energy surface scan. Starting at the initial position of atom 1 and moving in five 0.2 Angstrom steps in the X direction and three 0.1 Angstrom steps in the Z direction:

X 1 S 5 0.2 0 0.0 3 0.1

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).

Last updated on: 10 May 2009