Parrinello

Parrinello is an Italian surname. Notable people with the name include the physicist Michele Parrinello, who is recognized for co-developing the Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics method, developed in 1985 with Roberto Car.

The Car-Parrinello method is an ab initio molecular dynamics approach that integrates quantum-mechanical calculations of electrons with classical dynamics of nuclei, allowing simulations of molecular systems based on density functional theory without requiring separate energy minimization steps for each time step. The method has been widely used to study chemical reactions, materials, and condensed-matter systems at the atomic level, influencing subsequent developments in computational chemistry and materials science.

The Parrinello surname is of Italian origin and may refer to other individuals in various fields, though Michele Parrinello remains the best-known figure associated with the name due to the widespread impact of the Car-Parrinello approach.