The variational nature of the gentlest ascent dynamics and the relation of a variational minimum of a curve and the minimum energy path

It is shown that the path described by the gentlest ascent dynamics to nd transition states [W. E and X. Zhou, Nonlinearity 24, 1831 (2011)] is an example of a quickest nautical path for a given stationary wind or current, the so-called Zermelo navigation variational problem. In the present case the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bofill i Villà, Josep M., Quapp, Wolfgang
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/153617
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/153617
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Química física
Reaccions químiques
Dinàmica molecular
Physical and theoretical chemistry
Chemical reactions
Molecular dynamics
Descripción
Sumario:It is shown that the path described by the gentlest ascent dynamics to nd transition states [W. E and X. Zhou, Nonlinearity 24, 1831 (2011)] is an example of a quickest nautical path for a given stationary wind or current, the so-called Zermelo navigation variational problem. In the present case the current is the gradient of the potential energy surface. The result opens the possibility to propose new curves based on Zermelo's theory for two tasks: locate transition states and de ne reaction paths. The relation between a minimal variational character, that some former reaction pathways possess, and the minimum energy path is discussed.