Multidimensional Quantum Dynamics

The first book dedicated to this new and powerful computational method begins with a comprehensive description of MCTDH and its theoretical background. There then follows a discussion of recent extensions of MCTDH, such as the treatment of identical particles, leading to the MCTDHF and MCTDHB methods for fermions and bosons. The third section presents a wide spectrum of very different applications to reflect the large diversity of problems that can be tackled by MCTDH. The result is handbook and ready reference for theoretical chemists, physicists, chemists, graduate students, lecturers and software producers.

This book focuses on current applications of molecular quantum dynamics. Examples from all main subjects in the field, presented by the internationally renowned experts, illustrate the importance of the domain. Recent success in helping to understand experimental observations in fields like heterogeneous catalysis, photochemistry, reactive scattering, optical spectroscopy, or femto- and attosecond chemistry and spectroscopy underline that nuclear quantum mechanical effects affect many areas of chemical and physical research. In contrast to standard quantum chemistry calculations, where the nuclei are treated classically, molecular quantum dynamics can cover quantum mechanical effects in their motion. Many examples, ranging from fundamental to applied problems, are known today that are impacted by nuclear quantum mechanical effects, including phenomena like tunneling, zero point energy effects, or non-adiabatic transitions. Being important to correctly understand many observations in chemical, organic and biological systems, or for the understanding of molecular spectroscopy, the range of applications covered in this book comprises broad areas of science: from astrophysics and the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere, over elementary processes in chemistry, to biological processes (such as the first steps of photosynthesis or vision). Nevertheless, many researchers refrain from entering this domain. The book "Molecular Quantum Dynamics" offers them an accessible introduction. Although the calculation of large systems still presents a challenge - despite the considerable power of modern computers - new strategies have been developed to extend the studies to systems of increasing size. Such strategies are presented after a brief overview of the historical background. Strong emphasis is put on an educational presentation of the fundamental concepts, so that the reader can inform himself about the most important concepts, like eigenstates, wave packets, quantum mechanical resonances, entanglement, etc. The chosen examples highlight that high-level experiments and theory need to work closely together. This book thus is a must-read both for researchers working experimentally or theoretically in the concerned fields, and generally for anyone interested in the exciting world of molecular quantum dynamics.

This is a rapidly developing field to which the author is a leading contributor New methods in quantum dynamics and computational techniques, with applications to interesting physical problems, are brought together in this book Useful to both students and researchers

This volume describes many of the key practical theoretical techniques that have been developed to treat chemical dynamics problems in many-atom systems. It contains thorough treatments of fundamental theory and prescriptions for performing computations. The selection of methods, ranging from gas phase bimolecular reactions to complex processes in condensed phases, reflects the breadth of the field.The book is an excellent reference for proven and accepted methods as well as for theoretical approaches that are still being developed. It is appropriate for graduate students and other ?novices? who wish to begin working in chemical dynamics as well as active researchers who wish to acquire a wider knowledge of the field.

This book explains the usage and application of Molecular Quantum Dynamics, the methodology where both the electrons and the nuclei in a molecule are treated with quantum mechanical calculations. This volume of Lecture Notes in Chemistry addresses graduate students and postdocs in the field of theoretical chemistry, as well as postgraduate students, researchers and teachers from neighboring fields, such as quantum physics, biochemistry, biophysics, or anyone else who is interested in this rising method in theoretical chemistry, and who wants to gain experience in the opportunities it can offer. It can also be useful for teachers interested in illustrative examples of time-dependent quantum mechanics as animations of realistic wave packets have been designed to assist in visualization. Assuming a basic knowledge about quantum mechanics, the authors link their explanations to recent experimental investigations where Molecular Quantum Dynamics proved successful and necessary for the understanding of the experimental results. Examples including reactive scattering, photochemistry, tunneling, femto- and attosecond chemistry and spectroscopy, cold chemistry or crossed-beam experiments illustrate the power of the method. The book restricts complicated formalism to the necessary and in a self-contained and clearly explained way, offering the reader an introduction to, and instructions for, practical exercises. Continuative explanation and math are optionally supplemented for the interested reader. The reader learns how to apply example simulations with the MCTDH program package (Multi Configuration Time Dependent Hartree calculations). Readers can thus obtain the tools to run their own simulations and apply them to their problems. Selected scripts and program code from the examples are made available as supplementary material. This book bridges the gap between the existing textbooks on fundamental theoretical chemistry and research monographs focusing on sophisticated applications. It is a must-read for everyone who wants to gain a sound understanding of Molecular Quantum Dynamics simulations and to obtain basic experience in running their own simulations.

There continue at present many developments in the area of quantum mechanics and quantum dynamics in particular, of a very fundamental nature, all the way from implications for the foundations of physics to the influence of quantum mechanics on emerging technologies, such as the areas of quantum semiconductors and quantum computing, both of which are very important examples. It is hoped that the papers in this volume will be able to provide a much needed resource for researchers with regard to current fields of research in this dynamic area.