Wave packet representation quantum dynamics

Section II discusses the real wave packet propagation method we have found useful for the description of several three- and four-atom problems. As with many other wave packet or time-dependent quantum mechanical methods, as well as iterative diagonalization procedures for time-independent problems, repeated actions of a Hamiltonian matrix on a vector represent the major computational bottleneck of the method. Section III discusses relevant issues concerning the efficient numerical representation of the wave packet and the action of the Hamiltonian matrix on a vector in four-atom dynamics problems. Similar considerations apply to problems with fewer or more atoms. Problems involving four or more atoms can be computationally very taxing. Modern (parallel) computer architectures can be exploited to reduce the physical time to solution and Section IV discusses some parallel algorithms we have developed. Section V presents our concluding remarks. 

A typical initial condition in ordinary wave packet dynamics is an incoming Gaussian wave packet consistent with particular diatomic vibrational and rotational quantum numbers. In the present case, of course, one has two diatomics and with the rotational basis representation of Eq. (30) one would have, for the full complex wave packet. 

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