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Free-energy calculations - Theoretical Biophysics Group

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Good practices Reaction-coordinate based free-<strong>energy</strong> <strong>calculations</strong><br />

1 The continuity of the derivative dA(ξ)/dξ across<br />

the reaction pathway imposes that 〈Fξ〉ξ be continuous<br />

throughout.<br />

2 Since the dynamics of ξ corresponds to a random<br />

walk at zero mean force, sampling across<br />

the reaction pathway ought to be completely uniform.<br />

A markedly uneven sampling may be symptomatic<br />

of a poorly chosen order parameter.<br />

3 Like any free-<strong>energy</strong> measure, potentials of<br />

mean force should be provided with error bars.<br />

4 Since the kinetic properties of the system depend<br />

on the choice of the order parameter, it is<br />

recommended to ascertain that the latter constitutes<br />

a reasonable model of the reaction coordinate.<br />

Chris Chipot <strong>Free</strong>-<strong>energy</strong> <strong>calculations</strong>

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