Skip to content

Commit bf49f37

Browse files
committed
Add blurb on what NOT to do with MD simulations
1 parent 8b14abb commit bf49f37

File tree

1 file changed

+15
-1
lines changed

1 file changed

+15
-1
lines changed

paper/basic_training.tex

Lines changed: 15 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -1225,8 +1225,22 @@ \section{Should you run MD?}
12251225
So, count the cost of your potential simulations, assess whether they realistically have a chance of answering the questions you seek to answer, and then carefully decide whether the likelihood of success is worth the cost.
12261226
If not, don't tackle that problem with MD.
12271227

1228+
\section{Use your MD simulations and interpret the results with care and caution}
1229+
1230+
Analysis of molecular simulations is largely outside the scope of this work; however, some words of caution are worthwhile.
1231+
It is tempting, especially for those new to or outside of the area, to view simulations as providing ``the answer'', giving full mechanistic insight in atomistic detail into what happens in a particular situation and why it happens.
1232+
Instead, MD results are better thought of as the results of a computational experiment that results from a particular model (including force field), system composition, and protocol.
1233+
The resulting simulation(s) might or might not be statistically meaningful, relevant to experiment, or useful, but results will be obtained regardless.
1234+
1235+
This, then, leads us to one of the real dangers of molecular simulations: A simulation produces results, which tempt users to interpret or overinterpret them, whether the results are meaningful or not.
1236+
For example, even a very short, unequilibrated MD simulation can produce movies which appear interesting and, by virtue of the fact that they result from MD, reveal the positions of all the atoms in a system as a function of time.
1237+
It's easy to run several short MD simulations where (for example) the composition of the system is varied, and conclude that any observed differences are a result of variations in composition.
1238+
But as noted in Section~\ref{}, even simulations started from the \emph{same} structure but slightly different initial positions or velocities will diverge over time yielding different results, so perhaps any differences are simply a result of this divergence rather than due to the change in conditions.
1239+
Thus, analysis will require great care and caution to avoid overinterpreting data, and error analysis becomes particularly critical (as discussed in \url{https://github.com/dmzuckerman/Sampling-Uncertainty})).
1240+
1241+
In summary, then, do not use MD simulations simply to make movies and inspect these; MD simulations do not produce the answer, and considerable care must be exercised to avoid overinterpeting the full atomistic detail they always provide.
1242+
While movies in some cases can be useful, proper error analysis is always essential.
12281243

1229-
\todo[inline, color={yellow!20}]{DLM: Perhaps also a brief ``what NOT to do with your MD data'' blurb, e.g., don't just make movies and look at them. Don't treat them as the answer. Don't overinterpret, etc.}
12301244

12311245

12321246
\section{Conclusions}

0 commit comments

Comments
 (0)