Predicting materials properties with generative models: applying generative adversarial networks for heat flux generation

J Phys Condens Matter. 2024 Feb 14;36(19). doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/ad258b.

Abstract

In the realm of materials science, the integration of machine learning techniques has ushered in a transformative era. This study delves into the innovative application of generative adversarial networks (GANs) for generating heat flux data, a pivotal step in predicting lattice thermal conductivity within metallic materials. Leveraging GANs, this research explores the generation of meaningful heat flux data, which has a high degree of similarity with that calculated by molecular dynamics simulations. This study demonstrates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in understanding the complex physical meaning of data in materials science. By harnessing the power of such AI to generate data that is previously attainable only through experiments or simulations, new opportunities arise for exploring and predicting properties of materials.

Keywords: generative adversarial networks; heat flux; molecular dynamics; thermal conductivity.