# Citing LAMMPS

## Core Algorithms

The paper mentioned below is the best overview of LAMMPS, but there are
also publications describing particular models or algorithms implemented
in LAMMPS or complementary software that is has interfaces to. Please
see below for how to cite contributions to LAMMPS.

::: {#lammps_paper}
The latest canonical publication that describes the basic features, the
source code design, the program structure, the spatial decomposition
approach, the neighbor finding, basic communications algorithms, and how
users and developers have contributed to LAMMPS is:
:::

> [LAMMPS - A flexible simulation tool for particle-based materials
> modeling at the atomic, meso, and continuum scales, Comp. Phys. Comm.
> 271, 108171 (2022)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2021.108171)\_

So a project using LAMMPS or a derivative application that uses LAMMPS
as a simulation engine should cite this paper. The paper is expected to
be published in its final form under the same DOI in the first half of
2022. Please also give the URL of the LAMMPS website in your paper,
namely <https://www.lammps.org>.

The original publication describing the parallel algorithms used in the
initial versions of LAMMPS is:

> [S. Plimpton, Fast Parallel Algorithms for Short-Range Molecular
> Dynamics, J Comp Phys, 117, 1-19
> (1995).](https://doi.org/10.1006/jcph.1995.1039)\_

## DOI for the LAMMPS source code

The LAMMPS developers use the [Zenodo service at
CERN](https://zenodo.org/)\_ to create digital object identifiers (DOI)
for stable releases of the LAMMPS source code. There are two types of
DOIs for the LAMMPS source code.

The canonical DOI for **all** versions of LAMMPS, which will always
point to the **latest** stable release version, is:

-   DOI:
    [10.5281/zenodo.3726416](https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3726416)\_

In addition there are DOIs generated for individual stable releases:

-   3 March 2020 version:
    [DOI:10.5281/zenodo.3726417](https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3726417)\_
-   29 October 2020 version:
    [DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4157471](https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4157471)\_
-   29 September 2021 version:
    [DOI:10.5281/zenodo.6386596](https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6386596)\_

## Home page

The LAMMPS website at
[https://www.lammps.org/](https://www.lammps.org)\_ is the canonical
location for information about LAMMPS and its features.

## Citing contributions

LAMMPS has many features that use either previously published methods
and algorithms or novel features. It also includes potential parameter
files for specific models. Where available, a reminder about references
for optional features used in a specific run is printed to the screen
and log file. Style and output location can be selected with the [-cite
command-line switch](cite). Additional references are given in the
documentation of the [corresponding commands](Commands_all) or in the
[Howto tutorials](Howto). Please make certain, that you provide the
proper acknowledgments and citations in any published works using
LAMMPS.