Skip to content

Scanl functional can be calculated but not fully implemented #7291

@dyzheng

Description

@dyzheng

Describe the bug

Currently in LTS or v3.11.0.beta1, users can specify the dft_functional parameter as the SCAN-L functional to implement structural self-consistent iterations and single-point energy calculations. However, there exists a critical logical defect when this interface invokes the Libxc library for underlying physical parameter calculation. The software fails to accurately compute and transmit the Laplacian term, and instead adopts the sigma variable for approximate substitution. Such an approximation deviates from the rigorous theoretical definition and original derivation of the SCAN-L functional, thereby inducing systematic errors in key physical quantities including electronic structures and total energy, and ultimately leading to inaccurate computational results. Following the development standards of mainstream first-principles simulation codes, it is expected that ABACUS can strictly and completely realize the standard calculation of the Laplacian-related terms in the SCAN-L functional by referring to the mature implementation scheme of VASP. Alternatively, similar to the fault-tolerant design of QE, the program should feed back explicit error prompts to indicate functional incompatibility when full calculation support is unavailable, rather than outputting misleading erroneous data for subsequent research. Furthermore, the inherent Laplacian term of the SCAN-L functional is accompanied by obvious numerical instability, which serves as a key technical issue requiring special attention in code implementation and algorithm optimization. In addition, the calculation modules of atomic force and system stress should be repaired synchronously in line with the optimized functional logic. Corresponding modifications are required to ensure that the revised SCAN-L functional implementation can pass rigorous energy difference tests and meet the accuracy and convergence criteria of systematic first-principles calculations.

Expected behavior

No response

To Reproduce

No response

Environment

No response

Additional Context

No response

Task list for Issue attackers (only for developers)

  • Verify the issue is not a duplicate.
  • Describe the bug.
  • Steps to reproduce.
  • Expected behavior.
  • Error message.
  • Environment details.
  • Additional context.
  • Assign a priority level (low, medium, high, urgent).
  • Assign the issue to a team member.
  • Label the issue with relevant tags.
  • Identify possible related issues.
  • Create a unit test or automated test to reproduce the bug (if applicable).
  • Fix the bug.
  • Test the fix.
  • Update documentation (if necessary).
  • Close the issue and inform the reporter (if applicable).

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    BugsBugs that only solvable with sufficient knowledge of DFTFeatures NeededThe features are indeed needed, and developers should have sophisticated knowledge

    Type

    No type

    Projects

    No projects

    Milestone

    No milestone

    Relationships

    None yet

    Development

    No branches or pull requests

    Issue actions