Collaborate to decorrelate in path space: Hamiltonian replica exchange transition interface sampling (HRETIS)

We present Hamiltonian Replica Exchange Transition Interface Sampling (HRETIS), a path sampling framework designed to efficiently sample rare events in systems with complex potential energy landscapes.

HRETIS introduces a helper potential within a Hamiltonian replica exchange scheme, which enhances exploration of path space when the underlying potential is not well suited for conventional path sampling approaches.

This is particularly advantageous for systems exhibiting multiple pathways separated by orthogonal barriers such as in drug (un)binding, where standard algorithms often show slow convergence since they become trapped within specific pathways.

By exchanging Hamiltonians between the path ensembles, HRETIS overcomes these limitations and increases the decorrelation between subsequent paths in the Monte Carlo chain.

We demonstrate that HRETIS provides robust and accurate kinetics in several systems, including coarse-grained simulations of amino acid permeation through a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane.

Moreover, HRETIS is found to improve sampling efficiency and convergence, illustrating its potential as a powerful tool for rare event sampling in complex molecular systems.