Introduction to
GaussView and Gaussian
Benjamin J. Lynch
blynch@msi.umn.edu
help@msi.umn.edu
www.msi.umn.edu www.msi.umn.edu
• Description of Both Programs
• How to Create Input Files (with GaussView)
• How to Submit Calculations
• How to Visualize Output
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Gaussian 03:
an electronic structure package capable of predicting many
properties of atoms, molecules, and reactive systems
e.g.
• Energies
• Structures
• Vibrational frequencies
utilizing ab initio, density functional theory, semi-empirical,
molecular mechanics, and hybrid methods.
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GaussView:
graphical interface for Gaussian 03
• build molecules or reactive systems
• setup Gaussian 03 input files
• graphically examine results
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Visualization
GaussView
Input/Output
Text Files
Gaussian03 Electronic Structure Calculations
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Calculations with Gaussian
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Types of Calculations
• single point energy and properties (electron
density, dipole moment, …)
• geometry optimization
• frequency
• reaction path following
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Levels of Theory Available:
– semi-empirical
The level of theory is the
AM1, PM3, MNDO, … set of underlying approximations
used to describe the chemical
– density functional theory system. Higher levels of theory
B3LYP, MPW1PW91, … are often more accurate however
they come at much greater
– ab initio computational cost.
HF, MP2, CCSD, CCSD(T), …
– hybrid
G2, G3, …
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Basis Sets Available:
– Pople-type
Basis sets are used for most
3-21G, 6-31G, 6-311G(d,p), … calculations in Gaussian. They
are a set of functions that are
– Dunning used to describe electronic
wavefunctions.
cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-pVTZ, …
– Huzinaga and Others
MIDIX, …
– User-defined
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Creating Input Files for Gaussian
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Water Optimization Input File
%mem=32mb system resources
#p hf/6-31g opt computational model
type of calculation
hf/6-31g optimization of water title
0 1 charge & multiplicity
o
h 1 oh structure definition
h 1 oh 2 ahoh (z-matrix)
oh=0.9 variable values
ahoh=104.0
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Spin multiplicity:
multiplicity = n + 1
where n = # of unpaired electrons
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Building with GaussView:
• Instead of typing all the coordinates, theory, basis
set, etc., we can use GaussView.
• The calculation is specified by pointing and clicking
to build the molecule, and using pull-down menus to
select the calculation type, level of theory and basis
set.
• GaussView generates the Gaussian input file, and
can run Gaussian without ever returning to the Unix
prompt.
• GaussView can also be used to read Gaussian
output files and visualize the results.
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Getting Started with GaussView:
• Login remotely
ssh -X sp.msi.umn.edu
• Load Gaussian/GaussView module
module add g03
• Launch GaussView
gv
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Builder
Viewer
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Mouse Button Action Function
Left Click Selects or inserts item
Drag Left/Right Rotates about Y-axis
Drag Up/Down Rotates about X-axis
Center/Left-Right Drag Translation of
molecule
Right Drag Left/Right Rotates about Z-axis
Drag Up/Down Zooms in and out
Note: Holding down the Tab key limits mouse action to the closest
distinct fragment.
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Molecule Selected fragments
Are previewed here
Building
Fragments are
Selected
Molecule is put together
Here
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Molecule
Building
The atom labeled “Hot” is is where the fragment
will attach to the system you are building.
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Steps to Building
• Choose an atom or fragment
• Choose the location of the fragment that
will attach to your molecule in the builder
window
• Select/add the fragment to your molecule
in the viewer window
• repeat
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Elements:
Description • Input • Submit • Visualize
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Ring Fragments:
Description • Input • Submit • Visualize
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R-Group Fragments:
Description • Input • Submit • Visualize
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Biological Fragments:
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Molecule
Building
clean up
This option will use a MM
calculation to optimize the
geometry (very fast).
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Submitting Calculations
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Interactive:
Command:
g03 < input_file > output_file
Notes:
1) input and output files can use absolute or relative
pathnames
2) Gaussian temporary files can be redirected by
setting the GAUSS_SCRDIR environment variable.
setenv GAUSS_SCRDIR /scratch/pfast
3) BE CAREFUL how long you run interactively
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Batch:
Command:
qg03 [-options] input_file
Options:
-h help, display a usage list and the defaults
-e email notification
-m total amount of memory
-n node, choose the particular processor
-p number of processors
-r run?
-s scratch space
-t amount of wallclock time
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Select Gaussian
Submitting jobs through GaussView:
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Choose Job Type
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Method & Basis Set
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Save Input File
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The submission
dialogue box will appear
a little different depending
on which machine you
are running GaussView on.
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Submitting your Gaussian job
If you haven’t saved your input file yet, Gaussview will
Prompt you to save your input file.
You will name the input file, and then submit the calculation.
When Gaussian is finished running, you will receive a message
in Gaussview.
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How to Visualize
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Visualization Features
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How to view your output
• Your submitted calculation will run in the
background.
• When it is complete, Gaussview will
inform you and ask you if you wish to
view an output file.
• From the list of files, you can pick your
output (something.chk)
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How to view your output
• If you ever want to open an output file
again, you can go to:
File Open
In the GaussView menus to open any output
file.
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Output that can be visualized
• Geometry
• Vibrations
• Orbitals
• Electron density
• Electrostatic potential
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Main results menu
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Frequencies
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Spectra
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A cube file is a
format of 3-D
data that can
be plotted.
You can generate
a cube file to display
orbitals, electron
densities, electrostatic
potentials, etc.
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Questions?
http://www.gaussian.com
email: blynch@msi.umn.edu
audette@chem.umn.edu
help@msi.umn.edu
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