OpenFreeEnergy / OpenFreeEnergy/openfe

Default solvent padding is often nsufficient for solute-only dodecahedron boxes.

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Dominant language
Python
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Forks
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3d 9h
Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

Our default 1.2 nm solvation usually works fine when working on cubic boxes, but can lead to the following error when using dodecahedron boxes:

openmm.OpenMMException: The periodic box size has decreased to less than twice the nonbonded cutoff.

The current solution to this problem is to use a larger cutoff for solute-only calculations with dodecahedrons - usually 1.5 nm works.

This may be related to #827, specifically @mattwthompson's comment regarding the bounding box issues with small molecules.

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Research direction

Start by reproducing a solute-only calculation with a dodecahedron box and the current 1.2 nm default, using the reported OpenMM periodic-box error as the failure condition. Compare this with the 1.5 nm workaround and review the related bounding-box discussion in issue #827; the work is done when the default no longer produces the cutoff error.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
backend
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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