diff --git a/src/SDIonicStepper.C b/src/SDIonicStepper.C
index c1c594b..b514abf 100644
--- a/src/SDIonicStepper.C
+++ b/src/SDIonicStepper.C
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // SDIonicStepper.C
 //
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// $Id: SDIonicStepper.C,v 1.5 2008-03-26 04:57:54 fgygi Exp $
+// $Id: SDIonicStepper.C,v 1.6 2008-04-06 17:47:36 fgygi Exp $
 
 #include "SDIonicStepper.h"
 using namespace std;
@@ -11,61 +11,17 @@ using namespace std;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void SDIonicStepper::compute_r(double e0, const vector<vector< double> >& f0)
 {
-  bool wolfe1;
-  if ( first_step_ )
-  {
-     wolfe1 = true;
-     alpha_ = 1.0;
-  }
-  else
-  {
-    // Check if the first Wolfe condition is satisfied
-    // compute predicted decrease for previous step
-    // pred = pc_ * ( r0 - rc_ )
-    double pred = 0.0;
-    for ( int is = 0; is < r0_.size(); is++ )
-    {
-      for ( int i = 0; i < r0_[is].size(); i++ )
-      {
-        pred += pc_[is][i] * ( r0_[is][i] - rc_[is][i]);
-      }
-    }
-    const double sigma_wolfe = 0.1;
-    wolfe1 = ( e0 < ec_ - sigma_wolfe * pred );
-    //cout << "SDIonicStepper: pred = " << pred << endl;
-    //cout << "SDIonicStepper: ec: " << ec_ << endl;
-    //cout << "SDIonicStepper: required energy: " << ec_-sigma_wolfe * pred
-    //     << " actual: " << e0 << endl;
-    //cout << "SDIonicStepper: wolfe1 = " << wolfe1 << endl;
-  }
-
-  if ( wolfe1 )
-  {
-    // actual decrease from last step is sufficient
-    // accept r0 as new current point
-    rc_ = r0_;
-    ec_ = e0;
-    // define new descent direction
-    pc_ = f0;
-    alpha_ *= 1.05;
-  }
-  else
-  {
-     // backtrack
-     alpha_ *= 0.8;
-  }
-  //cout << "SDIonicStepper: alpha = " << alpha_ << endl;
+  // Steepest descent step
   for ( int is = 0; is < r0_.size(); is++ )
   {
+    const double dt2bym = dt_ * dt_ / pmass_[is];
     for ( int i = 0; i < r0_[is].size(); i++ )
     {
-      rp_[is][i] = rc_[is][i] + alpha_ * pc_[is][i];
+      rp_[is][i] = r0_[is][i] + dt2bym * f0[is][i];
     }
   }
   constraints_.enforce_r(r0_,rp_);
   rm_ = r0_;
   r0_ = rp_;
   atoms_.set_positions(r0_);
-
-  first_step_ = false;
 }
diff --git a/src/SDIonicStepper.h b/src/SDIonicStepper.h
index 2550df0..2f0b739 100644
--- a/src/SDIonicStepper.h
+++ b/src/SDIonicStepper.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // SDIonicStepper.h:
 //
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// $Id: SDIonicStepper.h,v 1.7 2008-03-26 04:57:54 fgygi Exp $
+// $Id: SDIonicStepper.h,v 1.8 2008-04-06 17:47:36 fgygi Exp $
 
 #ifndef SDIONICSTEPPER_H
 #define SDIONICSTEPPER_H
@@ -15,15 +15,9 @@ class SDIonicStepper : public IonicStepper
 {
   private:
 
-  bool first_step_;
-  std::vector<std::vector< double> > rc_;
-  std::vector<std::vector< double> > pc_;
-  double ec_;
-  double alpha_;
-
   public:
 
-  SDIonicStepper(Sample& s) : IonicStepper(s), first_step_(true) {}
+  SDIonicStepper(Sample& s) : IonicStepper(s) {}
 
   void compute_r(double e0, const std::vector<std::vector< double> >& f0);
   void compute_v(double e0, const std::vector<std::vector< double> >& f0) {}