Development of Large-scale First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Method for the Study of Structural and Physical Properties of Materials in the Earth's Deep Interior

Abstract

In this article, we introduce our linear-scaling first-principles calculation code CONQUEST, which enables us to carry out density functional theory (DFT) calculations on very large systems, of up to millions of atoms. The code uses localized basis sets and linear-scaling (or O(N)) methods, and has high parallel efficiency on large supercomputers like the K computer in Kobe. The code should be a powerful tool for the study of structural and physical properties of materials in the earth's deep interior, and the prospects for this application are discussed.