Reaction Coordinate
Reaction coordinates are low-dimensional representations of complex molecular systems, crucial for simplifying simulations and understanding reaction mechanisms. Current research focuses on developing data-driven methods, employing machine learning architectures like graph neural networks, normalizing flows, and autoencoders, to automatically identify optimal reaction coordinates from molecular dynamics simulations without relying on prior knowledge. These advancements enable more efficient enhanced sampling techniques and improved construction of Markov State Models, ultimately leading to better predictions of molecular kinetics and thermodynamics for diverse systems. This improved understanding has significant implications for fields like drug discovery and materials science.