Turning gold standard quantum chemistry into a routine simulation tool: predictive properties for large molecular systems

We propose comprehensive theoretical method development targeting a long-standing dilemma in molecular

quantum simulations between controllable predictive power and affordable computational time. While the

outstanding reliability of quantum chemistry’s gold standard model is repeatedly corroborated against experiments,

its traditional form is limited to the size of an amino acid molecule. By exploiting the short-range nature

of leading interaction contributions, a handful of groups, including ours, have recently extended the reach of

such quantitative energy computations up to a few hundred atoms. However, these state-of-the-art models are

still too demanding and are not at all equipped to compute experimentally relevant dynamic, spectroscopic, and

thermodynamic molecular properties.

Thus, to break down these barriers, we will further accelerate our cutting-edge gold standard methods up

to few 1000 atoms via concerted theoretical and algorithmic developments, and high-performance software

design. Additionally, we will take into account biochemical, crystal, and solvent environment effects via

cost-efficient embedding models. For the first time, we will also derive and implement practical approaches to

compute static and dynamic observable properties for large molecules at the gold standard level. The exceptional

capabilities of the new methods will enable us to study challenging chemical processes

of practical importance which are not accessible with chemical accuracy for any current lower-cost alternative.

We aim at modeling and understanding intricate covalent- and non-covalent interactions governing supramolecular

and protein-ligand binding as well as the mechanism of organo-, organometallic, surface, and enzyme catalytic

reactions.

Once successful, this project we will deliver groundbreaking and open access tools for the systematically

improvable and predictive quantum simulation of large molecules in realistic conditions and environments.