SYNOPSIS

g_msd -f traj.xtc -s topol.tpr -n index.ndx -o msd.xvg -mol diff_mol.xvg -pdb diff_mol.pdb -[no]h -[no]version -nice int -b time -e time -tu enum -[no]w -xvg enum -type enum -lateral enum -[no]ten -ngroup int -[no]mw -[no]rmcomm -tpdb time -trestart time -beginfit time -endfit time

DESCRIPTION

g_msd computes the mean square displacement (MSD) of atoms from a set of initial positions. This provides an easy way to compute the diffusion constant using the Einstein relation. The time between the reference points for the MSD calculation is set with -trestart. The diffusion constant is calculated by least squares fitting a straight line (D*t + c) through the MSD(t) from -beginfit to -endfit (note that t is time from the reference positions, not simulation time). An error estimate given, which is the difference of the diffusion coefficients obtained from fits over the two halves of the fit interval.

There are three, mutually exclusive, options to determine different types of mean square displacement: -type, -lateral and -ten. Option -ten writes the full MSD tensor for each group, the order in the output is: trace xx yy zz yx zx zy.

If -mol is set, g_msd plots the MSD for individual molecules (including making molecules whole across periodic boundaries): for each individual molecule a diffusion constant is computed for its center of mass. The chosen index group will be split into molecules.

The default way to calculate a MSD is by using mass-weighted averages. This can be turned off with -nomw.

With the option -rmcomm, the center of mass motion of a specific group can be removed. For trajectories produced with GROMACS this is usually not necessary, as mdrun usually already removes the center of mass motion. When you use this option be sure that the whole system is stored in the trajectory file.

The diffusion coefficient is determined by linear regression of the MSD, where, unlike for the normal output of D, the times are weighted according to the number of reference points, i.e. short times have a higher weight. Also when -beginfit=-1,fitting starts at 10% and when -endfit=-1, fitting goes to 90%. Using this option one also gets an accurate error estimate based on the statistics between individual molecules. Note that this diffusion coefficient and error estimate are only accurate when the MSD is completely linear between -beginfit and -endfit.

Option -pdb writes a .pdb file with the coordinates of the frame at time -tpdb with in the B-factor field the square root of the diffusion coefficient of the molecule. This option implies option -mol.

FILES

-f traj.xtc Input
 Trajectory: xtc trr trj gro g96 pdb cpt 

-s topol.tpr Input
 Structure+mass(db): tpr tpb tpa gro g96 pdb 

-n index.ndx Input, Opt.
 Index file 

-o msd.xvg Output
 xvgr/xmgr file 

-mol diff_mol.xvg Output, Opt.
 xvgr/xmgr file 

-pdb diff_mol.pdb Output, Opt.
 Protein data bank file 

OTHER OPTIONS

-[no]hno
 Print help info and quit

-[no]versionno
 Print version info and quit

-nice int 19
 Set the nicelevel

-b time 0
 First frame (ps) to read from trajectory

-e time 0
 Last frame (ps) to read from trajectory

-tu enum ps
 Time unit:  fs,  ps,  ns,  us,  ms or  s

-[no]wno
 View output  .xvg,  .xpm,  .eps and  .pdb files

-xvg enum xmgrace
 xvg plot formatting:  xmgrace,  xmgr or  none

-type enum no
 Compute diffusion coefficient in one direction:  no,  x,  y or  z

-lateral enum no
 Calculate the lateral diffusion in a plane perpendicular to:  no,  x,  y or  z

-[no]tenno
 Calculate the full tensor

-ngroup int 1
 Number of groups to calculate MSD for

-[no]mwyes
 Mass weighted MSD

-[no]rmcommno
 Remove center of mass motion

-tpdb time 0
 The frame to use for option  -pdb (ps)

-trestart time 10
 Time between restarting points in trajectory (ps)

-beginfit time -1
 Start time for fitting the MSD (ps), -1 is 10%

-endfit time -1
 End time for fitting the MSD (ps), -1 is 90%