[QE-users] phonon linewidth calculation

Lorenzo Paulatto lorenzo.paulatto at cnrs.fr
Wed Jun 11 08:29:40 CEST 2025


> This raises the question: Is it in fact only possible to calculate 
> phonon linewidth just for metalic systems?

Electron-phonon coupling requires a Fermi surface, if there is a gap, 
adding a smearing won't help. I guess you

want to simulate a doped semiconductor, in this case the el-ph coupling 
is strongly dependent on the doping concentration. If you add the doping 
as a net charge in the pw.x, it can in principle be done, but it will 
never converge.

However, this kind of problem can be simulated with the Wannier-function 
based codes. That can be plugged on QE there is EPW in the QE 
distribution, PERTURBO <https://perturbo-code.github.io/index.html> 
which is more or less a fork, and epiq 
<https://the-epiq-team.gitlab.io/epiq-site/> which is a completely 
independent implementation.

hth


>
>
> El mar, 10 jun 2025 a las 2:14, Lorenzo Paulatto 
> (<lorenzo.paulatto at cnrs.fr>) escribió:
>
>     I notice now that you have a ridiculous E_Fermi shift of 550 Ry,
>     is your material by any chance an insulator, but you are using
>     occupation='smearing'? If you have a gap, you must use
>     occupation='fixed' in phonon. If you want to have magnetization,
>     you will have to specify in pw input the total magnetization.
>
>     hth
>
>     On 09/06/2025 11:05, Ivan Dario Arellano Ramirez wrote:
>>     Dear Lorenzo,
>>
>>     I tried the settings you suggested:
>>
>>     nmix_ph=10
>>      alpha_mix=.25
>>
>>     and conv_thr =  1.0d-12 for scf calculation
>>
>>     however, the phonon calculation using ph.x still fails to converge.
>>
>>     I then increased the nmix_ph up to 20 and decreased the alpha_mix
>>     up to .1 but the issue persists.
>>
>>     El sáb, 7 jun 2025 a las 7:14, Lorenzo Paulatto
>>     (<lorenzo.paulatto at cnrs.fr>) escribió:
>>
>>         Hhelo,
>>
>>         increase nmix_ph and reduce alpha_mix, in a difficult case
>>         recently I have used:
>>
>>         nmix_ph=10
>>          alpha_mix=.25
>>
>>         Also, the convergence of the scf process in pw.x should be
>>         tighter, something like
>>             conv_thr =  1.0d-12
>>
>>         Because the total energy is variational, but the phonons are
>>         not, they converge much slower with this threshold.
>>
>>         hth
>>
>>
>>
>>         On 06/06/2025 21:48, Ivan Dario Arellano Ramirez wrote:
>>>         I QE users
>>>
>>>         I want to calculate the phonon linewidth for InN. I am
>>>         following two tutorials. However, in both cases, I encounter
>>>         the same issue: no convergence when using the ph.x module.
>>>
>>>         Pert. #  1: Fermi energy shift (Ry) =  -5.5393E+02    
>>>         0.0000E+00
>>>
>>>               iter # 150 total cpu time : 13815.8 secs av.it
>>>         <http://av.it>.:   5.3
>>>               thresh= 4.679E-04 alpha_mix =  0.700 |ddv_scf|^2 =
>>>          4.318E-06
>>>
>>>              End of self-consistent calculation
>>>
>>>              No convergence has been achieved
>>>
>>>
>>>         This is an overview of the two approaches I followed:
>>>
>>>         1) perform very dense scf calculation with la2F=.true. in
>>>         &systems (Likely, I am exceeding the maximum of 40000 k points)
>>>         2) normal scf on coarser k-mesh
>>>         3) phonon calculation using ph.x
>>>         4) Inverse Fourier transform of dynamical matrix and the
>>>         phonon linewidth using q2r.x
>>>         5) Fourier transform to obtain dynamical matrix and the
>>>         phonon linewidth using matdyn.x
>>>
>>>         The other tutorial proposed an initial scf calculation
>>>         followed by an nscf calculation with la2F=.true. the rest of
>>>         steps are the same.
>>>
>>>         Here are all the inputs.
>>>
>>>         Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>>         1) very dense k-mesh scf
>>>
>>>         &control
>>>             calculation = 'scf'
>>>             restart_mode='from_scratch',
>>>             prefix='inn_ep',
>>>             tstress = .true.
>>>             tprnfor = .true.
>>>             pseudo_dir = '/home/pps/pbe.0.3.1/PSEUDOPOTENTIALS/',
>>>             outdir='./tmp'
>>>             verbosity = 'high'
>>>             etot_conv_thr = 1.d-6
>>>             forc_conv_thr = 1.d-5
>>>         /
>>>         &system
>>>             ibrav = 0,
>>>             nat=  4,
>>>             ntyp= 2,
>>>             ecutwfc = 90,
>>>             ecutrho = 900,
>>>             occupations='smearing',
>>>             smearing='m-v',
>>>             degauss=0.02,
>>>             la2F = .true.
>>>         /
>>>         &electrons
>>>             conv_thr =  1.0d-8
>>>             electron_maxstep = 200,
>>>             mixing_mode = 'plain'
>>>             mixing_beta = 0.3D0
>>>             diagonalization  = 'david'
>>>          /
>>>         ATOMIC_SPECIES
>>>         In   114.818    In.pbe-dn-rrkjus_psl.1.0.0.UPF
>>>         N   14.007      N.pbe-n-rrkjus_psl.1.0.0.UPF
>>>         CELL_PARAMETERS angstrom
>>>            1.793358573  -3.106188164   0.000000000
>>>            1.793358573   3.106188164   0.000000000
>>>            0.000000000   0.000000000   5.799337066
>>>
>>>         ATOMIC_POSITIONS crystal
>>>         In            0.3333330000        0.6666670000      
>>>         -0.0019331848
>>>         In            0.6666670000        0.3333330000      
>>>          0.4980668152
>>>         N             0.3333330000        0.6666670000      
>>>          0.3767331848
>>>         N             0.6666670000        0.3333330000      
>>>          0.8767331848
>>>         K_POINTS automatic
>>>         45 45 36 0 0 0
>>>
>>>         2) normal scf
>>>
>>>         &control
>>>             calculation = 'scf'
>>>             restart_mode='from_scratch',
>>>             prefix='inn_ep',
>>>             tstress = .true.
>>>             tprnfor = .true.
>>>             pseudo_dir = '/home/pps/pbe.0.3.1/PSEUDOPOTENTIALS/',
>>>             outdir='./tmp'
>>>             verbosity = 'high'
>>>             etot_conv_thr = 1.d-6
>>>             forc_conv_thr = 1.d-5
>>>         /
>>>         &system
>>>             ibrav = 0,
>>>             nat=  4,
>>>             ntyp= 2,
>>>             ecutwfc = 90,
>>>             ecutrho = 900,
>>>             occupations='smearing',
>>>             smearing='m-v',
>>>             degauss=0.02,
>>>         /
>>>         &electrons
>>>             conv_thr =  1.0d-8
>>>             electron_maxstep = 200,
>>>             mixing_mode = 'plain'
>>>             mixing_beta = 0.3D0
>>>             diagonalization  = 'david'
>>>          /
>>>         ATOMIC_SPECIES
>>>         In   114.818    In.pbe-dn-rrkjus_psl.1.0.0.UPF
>>>         N   14.007      N.pbe-n-rrkjus_psl.1.0.0.UPF
>>>         CELL_PARAMETERS angstrom
>>>            1.793358573  -3.106188164   0.000000000
>>>            1.793358573   3.106188164   0.000000000
>>>            0.000000000   0.000000000   5.799337066
>>>
>>>         ATOMIC_POSITIONS crystal
>>>         In            0.3333330000        0.6666670000      
>>>         -0.0019331848
>>>         In            0.6666670000        0.3333330000      
>>>          0.4980668152
>>>         N             0.3333330000        0.6666670000      
>>>          0.3767331848
>>>         N             0.6666670000        0.3333330000      
>>>          0.8767331848
>>>         K_POINTS automatic
>>>         15 15 12 0 0 0
>>>
>>>         3) phonon calculation
>>>
>>>         Phonons of InN at G!=0
>>>         &inputph
>>>          tr2_ph = 1.0d-14,
>>>          ldisp = .true.,
>>>          prefix = 'inn_ep',
>>>          recover = .true.
>>>          fildyn = 'inn-ph.dyn',
>>>          fildvscf = 'inndv'
>>>          nq1 = 5,
>>>          nq2 = 5,
>>>          nq3 = 3,
>>>          electron_phonon = 'interpolated'
>>>          el_ph_nsigma = 10
>>>          el_ph_sigma = 0.02
>>>          amass(1) = 114.818,
>>>          amass(2) = 14.007,
>>>          outdir =  './tmp'
>>>          /
>>>
>>>          4) Inverse Fourier Transform
>>>
>>>         &INPUT
>>>          fildyn = 'inn-ph.dyn',
>>>          zasr = 'crystal',
>>>          flfrc =  'inn-ph.fc',
>>>          la2F = .true.
>>>          /
>>>
>>>         5) Fourier Transform
>>>
>>>         &input
>>>          asr = 'crystal',
>>>          flfrc = 'inn-ph.fc',
>>>          flfrq = 'inn.band.freq'
>>>          flvec = 'inn.band.modes'
>>>          amass(1) = 114.818,
>>>          amass(2) = 14.007,
>>>          q_in_band_form = .true.
>>>          la2F = .true.
>>>          /
>>>         8
>>>            0.0000000000     0.0000000000 0.0000000000  40  ! Gamma
>>>            0.5000000000     0.0000000000 0.0000000000  25  ! M
>>>            0.3333333333     0.3333333333 0.0000000000  40  ! K
>>>            0.0000000000     0.0000000000 0.0000000000  25  ! Gamma
>>>            0.0000000000     0.0000000000 0.5000000000  40  ! A
>>>            0.5000000000     0.0000000000 0.5000000000  25  ! L
>>>            0.3333333333     0.3333333333 0.5000000000  40  ! H
>>>            0.0000000000     0.0000000000 0.5000000000  1   ! A
>>>
>>>
>>>         Best regards,
>>>
>>>         -- 
>>>
>>>         Iván Darío Arellano Ramírez
>>>
>>>         Profesor Titular Programa de Ingeniería Física
>>>
>>>         Director Grupo de Investigación en Modelado y Simulación
>>>         Computacional
>>>
>>>         Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
>>>
>>>
>>>         El contenido de este mensaje y sus anexos son únicamente
>>>         para el uso del destinatario y pueden contener información 
>>>         clasificada o reservada. Si usted no es el destinatario
>>>         intencional, absténgase de cualquier uso, difusión,
>>>         distribución o copia de esta comunicación.
>>>
>>>         _______________________________________________________________________________
>>>         The Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation stands in solidarity with all civilians worldwide who are victims of terrorism, military aggression, and indiscriminate warfare.
>>>         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>         Quantum ESPRESSO is supported by MaX (www.max-centre.eu <http://www.max-centre.eu>)
>>>         users mailing listusers at lists.quantum-espresso.org
>>>         https://lists.quantum-espresso.org/mailman/listinfo/users
>>         -- 
>>         Dr. Lorenzo Paulatto
>>         IR IMPMC - CNRS UMR 7590 / Sorbonne Université / MNHN
>>         phone: +33 (0)1 442 79822 / telegram: lpaulatto
>>         http://www.impmc.upmc.fr/~paulatto/ -
>>         https://anharmonic.github.io/
>>         23-24/423 B115, 4 place Jussieu 75252 Paris CX 05
>>         _______________________________________________________________________________
>>         The Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation stands in solidarity with all
>>         civilians worldwide who are victims of terrorism, military
>>         aggression, and indiscriminate warfare.
>>         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>         Quantum ESPRESSO is supported by MaX (www.max-centre.eu
>>         <http://www.max-centre.eu>)
>>         users mailing list users at lists.quantum-espresso.org
>>         https://lists.quantum-espresso.org/mailman/listinfo/users
>>
>>
>>
>>     -- 
>>
>>     Iván Darío Arellano Ramírez
>>
>>     Profesor Titular Programa de Ingeniería Física
>>
>>     Director Grupo de Investigación en Modelado y Simulación
>>     Computacional
>>
>>     Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
>>
>>
>>     El contenido de este mensaje y sus anexos son únicamente para el
>>     uso del destinatario y pueden contener información  clasificada o
>>     reservada. Si usted no es el destinatario intencional, absténgase
>>     de cualquier uso, difusión, distribución o copia de esta
>>     comunicación.
>>
>>     _______________________________________________________________________________
>>     The Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation stands in solidarity with all civilians worldwide who are victims of terrorism, military aggression, and indiscriminate warfare.
>>     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>     Quantum ESPRESSO is supported by MaX (www.max-centre.eu <http://www.max-centre.eu>)
>>     users mailing listusers at lists.quantum-espresso.org
>>     https://lists.quantum-espresso.org/mailman/listinfo/users
>     -- 
>     Dr. Lorenzo Paulatto
>     IR IMPMC - CNRS UMR 7590 / Sorbonne Université / MNHN
>     phone: +33 (0)1 442 79822 / telegram: lpaulatto
>     http://www.impmc.upmc.fr/~paulatto/ - https://anharmonic.github.io/
>     23-24/423 B115, 4 place Jussieu 75252 Paris CX 05
>     _______________________________________________________________________________
>     The Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation stands in solidarity with all
>     civilians worldwide who are victims of terrorism, military
>     aggression, and indiscriminate warfare.
>     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     Quantum ESPRESSO is supported by MaX (www.max-centre.eu
>     <http://www.max-centre.eu>)
>     users mailing list users at lists.quantum-espresso.org
>     https://lists.quantum-espresso.org/mailman/listinfo/users
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> Iván Darío Arellano Ramírez
>
> Profesor Titular Programa de Ingeniería Física
>
> Director Grupo de Investigación en Modelado y Simulación Computacional
>
> Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
>
>
> El contenido de este mensaje y sus anexos son únicamente para el uso 
> del destinatario y pueden contener información  clasificada o 
> reservada. Si usted no es el destinatario intencional, absténgase de 
> cualquier uso, difusión, distribución o copia de esta comunicación.
>
> _______________________________________________________________________________
> The Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation stands in solidarity with all civilians worldwide who are victims of terrorism, military aggression, and indiscriminate warfare.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Quantum ESPRESSO is supported by MaX (www.max-centre.eu)
> users mailing listusers at lists.quantum-espresso.org
> https://lists.quantum-espresso.org/mailman/listinfo/users
-- 
Dr. Lorenzo Paulatto
IR IMPMC - CNRS UMR 7590 / Sorbonne Université / MNHN
phone: +33 (0)1 442 79822 / telegram: lpaulatto
http://www.impmc.upmc.fr/~paulatto/ - https://anharmonic.github.io/
23-24/423 B115, 4 place Jussieu 75252 Paris CX 05
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