Geometry optimization

Fixed cell

We use DFTK and the GeometryOptimization package to find the minimal-energy bond length of the $H_2$ molecule. First we set up an appropriate DFTKCalculator (see AtomsCalculators integration), for which we use the LDA model just like in the Tutorial for silicon in combination with a pseudodojo pseudopotential (see Pseudopotentials).

using DFTK
using PseudoPotentialData

pseudopotentials = PseudoFamily("dojo.nc.sr.pbe.v0_4_1.standard.upf")
calc = DFTKCalculator(;
    model_kwargs = (; functionals=LDA(), pseudopotentials),  # model_DFT keyword arguments
    basis_kwargs = (; kgrid=[1, 1, 1], Ecut=10)  # PlaneWaveBasis keyword arguments
)
DFTKCalculator(functionals=Xc(lda_x, lda_c_pw), pseudopotentials=PseudoFamily("dojo.nc.sr.pbe.v0_4_1.standard.upf"), Ecut=10, kgrid=[1, 1, 1])

Next we set up an initial hydrogen molecule within a box of vacuum. We use the parameters of the equivalent tutorial from ABINIT and DFTK's AtomsBase integration to setup the hydrogen molecule. We employ a simulation box of 10 bohr times 10 bohr times 10 bohr and a pseudodojo pseudopotential.

using LinearAlgebra
using Unitful
using UnitfulAtomic

r0 = 1.4   # Initial bond length in Bohr
a  = 10.0  # Box size in Bohr

cell_vectors = [[a, 0, 0]u"bohr", [0, a, 0]u"bohr", [0, 0, a]u"bohr"]
h2_crude = periodic_system([:H => [0, 0, 0.]u"bohr",
                            :H => [r0, 0, 0]u"bohr"],
                           cell_vectors)
FlexibleSystem(H₂, periodicity = TTT):
    cell_vectors      : [      10        0        0;
                                0       10        0;
                                0        0       10]u"a₀"

    Atom(H,  [       0,        0,        0]u"a₀")
    Atom(H,  [     1.4,        0,        0]u"a₀")

Finally we call minimize_energy! to start the geometry optimisation. We use verbosity=2 to get some insight into the minimisation. With verbosity=1 only a summarising table would be printed and with verbosity=0 (default) the minimisation would be quiet.

using GeometryOptimization
results = minimize_energy!(h2_crude, calc; tol_forces=2e-6, verbosity=2)
nothing  # hide
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.110651512588                   -0.82   0.80    6.0    3.58s
  2   -1.117204055434       -2.18       -1.88   0.80    1.0    1.60s
  3   -1.117250393650       -4.33       -2.72   0.80    1.0   19.7ms
  4   -1.117251154476       -6.12       -3.47   0.80    1.0   19.5ms
  5   -1.117251187812       -7.48       -4.02   0.80    1.0   56.6ms
  6   -1.117251190085       -8.64       -5.02   0.80    1.0   20.0ms
  7   -1.117251190142      -10.24       -6.24   0.80    1.0   20.6ms
  8   -1.117251190143      -12.02       -6.62   0.80    2.0   31.6ms
  9   -1.117251190143      -15.35       -6.66   0.80    2.0   23.1ms
 10   -1.117251190143      -13.95       -7.59   0.80    1.0   21.2ms
 11   -1.117251190143      -14.95       -8.41   0.80    2.0   26.1ms
 12   -1.117251190143   +  -14.54       -8.59   0.80    1.0   23.7ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.117251190143                   -9.16   0.80    1.0    3.60s
  2   -1.117251190143   +  -14.35      -10.23   0.80    1.0   72.8ms

    Geometry optimisation convergence (in atomic units)
┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬────────┐
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │  Δtime │
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼────────┤
│   0 │ -1.117251190143 │           │   0.0269318 │  21.2s │
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴────────┘

n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.117517997602                   -2.46   0.80    1.0   52.3ms
  2   -1.117520586047       -5.59       -3.49   0.80    1.0   19.3ms
  3   -1.117520612986       -7.57       -4.23   0.80    1.0   18.9ms
  4   -1.117520613449       -9.33       -5.14   0.80    1.0   19.2ms
  5   -1.117520613464      -10.81       -5.92   0.80    1.0   34.3ms
  6   -1.117520613465      -12.14       -6.42   0.80    1.0   19.9ms
  7   -1.117520613465      -13.35       -7.41   0.80    1.0   20.8ms
  8   -1.117520613465   +    -Inf       -8.23   0.80    1.0   23.3ms
  9   -1.117520613465      -15.05       -8.94   0.80    1.0   21.1ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118247264596                   -1.69   0.80    1.0   13.2ms
  2   -1.118339043932       -4.04       -2.70   0.80    1.0   18.8ms
  3   -1.118340011111       -6.01       -3.44   0.80    1.0   24.1ms
  4   -1.118340028552       -7.76       -4.36   0.80    1.0   19.4ms
  5   -1.118340029137       -9.23       -5.12   0.80    1.0   22.2ms
  6   -1.118340029163      -10.57       -5.62   0.80    1.0   20.0ms
  7   -1.118340029165      -11.73       -6.68   0.80    1.0   22.9ms
  8   -1.118340029165      -13.55       -7.58   0.80    1.0   20.8ms
  9   -1.118340029165      -14.57       -8.12   0.80    1.0   81.8ms
 10   -1.118340029165   +  -15.05       -8.55   0.80    1.0    550ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118340029165                   -9.05   0.80    1.0   13.3ms
  2   -1.118340029165      -14.54      -10.36   0.80    1.0   18.8ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118340029165                  -11.05   0.80    1.0   13.4ms
  2   -1.118340029165   +  -14.21      -11.42   0.80    1.0   18.8ms

┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬────────┐
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │  Δtime │
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼────────┤
│   1 │ -1.118340029165 │           │  0.00297055 │  3.60s │
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴────────┘

n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118346721506                   -3.09   0.80    1.0   13.3ms
  2   -1.118346864758       -6.84       -4.11   0.80    1.0   19.0ms
  3   -1.118346866235       -8.83       -4.86   0.80    1.0   18.9ms
  4   -1.118346866261      -10.59       -5.78   0.80    1.0   19.1ms
  5   -1.118346866261      -12.08       -6.55   0.80    1.0   19.8ms
  6   -1.118346866261      -13.43       -7.04   0.80    1.0   19.9ms
  7   -1.118346866261      -14.57       -8.13   0.80    1.0   20.4ms
  8   -1.118346866261      -14.81       -8.95   0.80    1.0   20.5ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118354724004                   -2.61   0.80    1.0   13.9ms
  2   -1.118356087056       -5.87       -3.62   0.80    1.0   25.9ms
  3   -1.118356101131       -7.85       -4.37   0.80    1.0   29.0ms
  4   -1.118356101377       -9.61       -5.29   0.80    1.0   19.4ms
  5   -1.118356101385      -11.10       -6.06   0.80    1.0   19.7ms
  6   -1.118356101386      -12.45       -6.55   0.80    1.0   20.0ms
  7   -1.118356101386      -13.59       -7.65   0.80    1.0   20.4ms
  8   -1.118356101386   +  -15.05       -8.45   0.80    1.0   20.6ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118356101386                   -9.24   0.80    1.0   13.7ms
  2   -1.118356101386   +  -14.88       -9.82   0.80    1.0   19.0ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118356101386                  -10.62   0.80    1.0   13.2ms
  2   -1.118356101386      -14.65      -11.46   0.80    1.0   19.0ms

┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬────────┐
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │  Δtime │
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼────────┤
│   2 │ -1.118356101386 │     -4.79 │  4.47268e-5 │  526ms │
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴────────┘

n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118356102848                   -4.94   0.80    1.0   23.2ms
  2   -1.118356102877      -10.54       -5.96   0.80    1.0   19.2ms
  3   -1.118356102877      -12.53       -6.70   0.80    1.0   19.2ms
  4   -1.118356102877      -14.15       -7.62   0.80    1.0   19.5ms
  5   -1.118356102877      -15.05       -8.39   0.80    1.0   20.0ms
  6   -1.118356102877   +  -14.21       -8.89   0.80    1.0   26.4ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118356104771                   -4.40   0.80    1.0   13.3ms
  2   -1.118356105116       -9.46       -5.42   0.80    1.0   18.9ms
  3   -1.118356105120      -11.45       -6.17   0.80    1.0   22.1ms
  4   -1.118356105120      -13.22       -7.09   0.80    1.0   19.5ms
  5   -1.118356105120      -14.31       -7.86   0.80    1.0   19.8ms
  6   -1.118356105120   +  -14.57       -8.35   0.80    1.0   22.7ms
  7   -1.118356105120      -15.35       -9.45   0.80    1.0   20.9ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118356105120                  -10.08   0.80    1.0   16.2ms
  2   -1.118356105120   +  -14.54      -11.02   0.80    1.0   19.0ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -1.118356105120                  -11.67   0.80    1.0   13.3ms
  2   -1.118356105120   +  -15.65      -12.44   0.80    1.0   21.7ms

┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬────────┐
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │  Δtime │
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼────────┤
│   3 │ -1.118356105120 │     -8.43 │  1.12416e-8 │  479ms │
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴────────┘

Structure after optimisation (note that the atom has wrapped around)

results.system
FlexibleSystem(H₂, periodicity = TTT):
    cell_vectors      : [      10        0        0;
                                0       10        0;
                                0        0       10]u"a₀"

    Atom(H,  [-0.0431829, -1.5828e-35, 1.51249e-34]u"a₀")
    Atom(H,  [ 1.44318, 6.12988e-37, -2.95559e-34]u"a₀")

Compute final bond length:

rmin = norm(position(results.system[1]) - position(results.system[2]))
println("Optimal bond length: ", rmin)
Optimal bond length: 1.4863658638014283 a₀

Our result (1.486 Bohr) agrees with the equivalent tutorial from ABINIT.

Variable cell

Recent versions of GeometryOptimization support cell optimization as well by passing variablecell=true to minimize_energy!.

For a plane-wave code like DFTK, variable cells pose an additional challenge: changes to the cell's size affect the used plane waves, leading to discontinuities in the energy and stresses. This can cause the geometry optimization to struggle and/or fail to converge.

A practical strategy to overcome this problem is Energy cutoff smearing. As a demonstration let us find the optimal lattice constant of silicon.

Like before we define a calculator, this time with a kinetic_blowup set to use energy cutoff smearing:

calc = DFTKCalculator(;
    model_kwargs = (; functionals=LDA(), pseudopotentials,
                      kinetic_blowup=BlowupCHV()),
    basis_kwargs = (; kgrid=[2, 2, 2], Ecut=10)
)
DFTKCalculator(functionals=Xc(lda_x, lda_c_pw), pseudopotentials=PseudoFamily("dojo.nc.sr.pbe.v0_4_1.standard.upf"), Ecut=10, kgrid=[2, 2, 2])

And here is our starting silicon structure:

a = 10.0u"bohr"   # Approximate Silicon lattice constant
cell_vectors = a/2 * [[0, 1, 1], [1, 0, 1], [1, 1, 0]]
initial_silicon = periodic_system([:Si =>  ones(3)/8,
                                   :Si => -ones(3)/8],
                                  cell_vectors;
                                  fractional=true)
FlexibleSystem(Si₂, periodicity = TTT):
    cell_vectors      : [       0        5        5;
                                5        0        5;
                                5        5        0]u"a₀"

    Atom(Si, [    1.25,     1.25,     1.25]u"a₀")
    Atom(Si, [   -1.25,    -1.25,    -1.25]u"a₀")

We now minimize, passing variablecell=true:

using GeometryOptimization
results = minimize_energy!(initial_silicon, calc; variablecell=true,
                           tol_virial=2e-6, verbosity=2)
nothing  # hide
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.335382768255                   -0.81   0.80    7.3    822ms
  2   -8.340914647800       -2.26       -1.69   0.80    1.3    643ms
  3   -8.341205147400       -3.54       -2.76   0.80    3.0   35.5ms
  4   -8.341214238307       -5.04       -3.32   0.80    3.3   40.3ms
  5   -8.341214269140       -7.51       -4.06   0.80    1.3   28.0ms
  6   -8.341214272420       -8.48       -5.40   0.80    2.0   32.0ms
  7   -8.341214272516      -10.02       -5.72   0.80    4.0   60.2ms
  8   -8.341214272518      -11.73       -6.49   0.80    2.7   35.7ms
  9   -8.341214272518      -13.35       -7.23   0.80    2.3   34.8ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.341214272518                   -7.86   0.80    1.0    631ms
  2   -8.341214272518   +    -Inf       -9.09   0.80    1.0   25.6ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.341214272518                   -9.71   0.80    1.0   23.1ms
  2   -8.341214272518      -14.75       -9.91   0.80    1.0   25.9ms

              Geometry optimisation convergence (in atomic units)
┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬──────────┬────
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │ max(Virial) │ Pressure │   ⋯
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼──────────┼────
│   0 │ -8.341214272518 │           │             │    0.163458 │    -0.16 │   ⋯
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴──────────┴────
                                                                1 column omitted

n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.350572309962                   -1.21   0.80    9.0   68.3ms
  2   -8.351868558782       -2.89       -1.88   0.80    2.0   30.3ms
  3   -8.351927812749       -4.23       -2.79   0.80    3.7   39.3ms
  4   -8.351928508492       -6.16       -3.78   0.80    2.7   34.7ms
  5   -8.351928514572       -8.22       -5.06   0.80    3.0   36.9ms
  6   -8.351928514638      -10.18       -5.91   0.80    4.3   43.6ms
  7   -8.351928514639      -11.98       -6.68   0.80    3.7   40.2ms
  8   -8.351928514639      -13.67       -7.75   0.80    3.0   36.3ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353380001256                   -1.52   0.80    9.0   87.7ms
  2   -8.353727850890       -3.46       -2.21   0.80    1.0   25.7ms
  3   -8.353757329999       -4.53       -2.95   0.80    3.7   39.3ms
  4   -8.353757521925       -6.72       -4.17   0.80    2.7   32.7ms
  5   -8.353757531679       -8.01       -4.91   0.80    3.7   39.9ms
  6   -8.353757531728      -10.31       -5.61   0.80    3.0   35.5ms
  7   -8.353757531731      -11.64       -6.87   0.80    2.7   34.4ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353757531731                   -7.60   0.80    1.0   31.0ms
  2   -8.353757531731      -14.15       -8.21   0.80    1.0   25.3ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353757531731                   -8.57   0.80    1.0   22.4ms
  2   -8.353757531731      -14.75       -8.91   0.80    1.0   25.4ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353757531731                   -9.14   0.80    1.0   22.7ms
  2   -8.353757531731   +  -14.75       -9.43   0.80    1.0   30.6ms

┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬──────────┬────
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │ max(Virial) │ Pressure │   ⋯
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼──────────┼────
│   1 │ -8.353757531731 │           │             │   0.0156413 │   -0.016 │   ⋯
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴──────────┴────
                                                                1 column omitted

n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353712315727                   -3.22   0.80    8.3   63.0ms
  2   -8.353758611553       -4.33       -3.94   0.80    1.0   25.2ms
  3   -8.353770534123       -4.92       -4.06   0.80    6.3   59.2ms
  4   -8.353770537303       -8.50       -4.74   0.80    1.7   29.5ms
  5   -8.353770537326      -10.64       -4.92   0.80    2.7   34.9ms
  6   -8.353770537403      -10.11       -5.68   0.80    1.0   29.3ms
  7   -8.353770537408      -11.28       -6.41   0.80    3.3   38.1ms
  8   -8.353770537408      -12.99       -6.60   0.80    2.7   34.1ms
  9   -8.353770537408      -14.15       -7.19   0.80    1.7   33.7ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353771057855                   -2.00   0.80    8.3   63.0ms
  2   -8.353869291636       -4.01       -2.71   0.80    1.0   29.9ms
  3   -8.353895040619       -4.59       -3.29   0.80    5.0   45.4ms
  4   -8.353895103055       -7.20       -4.07   0.80    2.0   31.4ms
  5   -8.353895110620       -8.12       -4.87   0.80    2.7   35.6ms
  6   -8.353895110747       -9.90       -5.73   0.80    3.3   41.8ms
  7   -8.353895110749      -11.65       -6.64   0.80    3.0   37.2ms
  8   -8.353895110749      -13.29       -7.60   0.80    3.7   42.5ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353895110749                   -8.28   0.80    1.0   22.8ms
  2   -8.353895110749   +    -Inf       -9.44   0.80    1.0   25.6ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353895110749                  -10.31   0.80    1.0   22.8ms
  2   -8.353895110749      -14.45      -10.26   0.80    1.0   25.5ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353895110749                  -10.61   0.80    1.0   22.6ms
  2   -8.353895110749      -14.45      -10.91   0.80    1.0   26.0ms

┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬──────────┬────
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │ max(Virial) │ Pressure │   ⋯
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼──────────┼────
│   2 │ -8.353895110749 │     -3.86 │             │ 0.000646208 │ -0.00065 │   ⋯
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴──────────┴────
                                                                1 column omitted

n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353778939501                   -3.50   0.80    8.0   60.8ms
  2   -8.353869077309       -4.05       -3.69   0.80    1.0   25.2ms
  3   -8.353895211856       -4.58       -3.86   0.80    6.0   57.6ms
  4   -8.353895212189       -9.48       -4.05   0.80    1.0   25.4ms
  5   -8.353895212413       -9.65       -4.51   0.80    1.0   25.5ms
  6   -8.353895212470      -10.25       -4.70   0.80    1.0   28.8ms
  7   -8.353895212499      -10.54       -5.54   0.80    1.0   26.0ms
  8   -8.353895212504      -11.29       -6.30   0.80    3.3   36.9ms
  9   -8.353895212504      -13.04       -6.63   0.80    2.0   32.8ms
 10   -8.353895212504      -14.15       -6.90   0.80    2.3   37.9ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353761780109                   -3.27   0.80    8.3   64.9ms
  2   -8.353844746076       -4.08       -3.76   0.80    1.0   29.4ms
  3   -8.353895360276       -4.30       -3.77   0.80    6.3   54.3ms
  4   -8.353895362394       -8.67       -4.07   0.80    1.0   25.9ms
  5   -8.353895362370   +  -10.62       -4.34   0.80    1.3   30.2ms
  6   -8.353895362629       -9.59       -4.77   0.80    1.0   25.7ms
  7   -8.353895362676      -10.32       -5.19   0.80    1.7   28.5ms
  8   -8.353895362685      -11.03       -6.25   0.80    3.0   34.7ms
  9   -8.353895362686      -12.36       -6.76   0.80    3.0   40.4ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353895362686                   -7.52   0.80    1.0   22.1ms
  2   -8.353895362686   +  -14.75       -8.93   0.80    1.0   30.2ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353895362686                   -9.23   0.80    1.0   23.6ms
  2   -8.353895362686   +    -Inf       -9.47   0.80    1.0   32.1ms
n     Energy            log10(ΔE)   log10(Δρ)   α      Diag   Δtime 
---   ---------------   ---------   ---------   ----   ----   ------
  1   -8.353895362686                   -9.75   0.80    1.0   22.4ms
  2   -8.353895362686   +    -Inf      -10.20   0.80    1.0   25.0ms

┌─────┬─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬──────────┬────
│   n │          Energy │ log10(ΔE) │  max(Force) │ max(Virial) │ Pressure │   ⋯
├─────┼─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼──────────┼────
│   3 │ -8.353895362686 │     -6.60 │             │   1.7187e-6 │  -1.7e-6 │   ⋯
└─────┴─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴──────────┴────
                                                                1 column omitted

Structure after optimization

results.system
FlexibleSystem(Si₂, periodicity = TTT):
    cell_vectors      : [4.793e-36  5.27783  5.27783;
                          5.27783 4.793e-36  5.27783;
                          5.27783  5.27783 4.793e-36]u"a₀"

    Atom(Si, [ 1.31946,  1.31946,  1.31946]u"a₀")
    Atom(Si, [-1.31946, -1.31946, -1.31946]u"a₀")

Since here the cell was rescaled but its shape did not change, we directly extract the optimal lattice constant from one of the cell vectors:

using AtomsBase
amin = AtomsBase.cell_vectors(results.system)[1][2]*2
println("Optimal lattice constant: ", amin)
Optimal lattice constant: 10.555662912990975 a₀

Note that while for silicon the positions of the atoms are fixed by symmetry, in general a variable cell optimization will try to optimize both the cell and the positions of the individual atoms.