Optimizing working parameters of the twin-range cutoff method in terms of accuracy and efficiency

Abstract

We construct a priori error estimation for the force error of the twin-range cutoff method, which is widely used to treat the short-range non-bonded interactions in molecular simulations. Based on the error and cost estimation, we develop a work flow that can automatically determine the nearly most efficient twin-range cutoff parameters (i.e. the cutoff radii and the neighbor list updating frequency) prior to a simulation for a predetermined accuracy. Both the error estimate and the parameter tuning method are demonstrated to be effective by testing simulations of the standard Lennard-Jones 6-12 fluid in gas, liquid as well as supercritical state. We recommend the tuned twin-range cutoff method that can save precious user time and computational resources.