Time-dependent mixed quantum classical

For the case of intramolecular energy transfer from excited vibrational states, a mixed quantum-classical treatment was given by Gerber et al. already in 1982 [101]. These authors used a time-dependent self-consistent field (TDSCF) approximation. In the classical limit of TDSCF averages over wave functions are replaced by averages over bundles of trajectories, each obtained by SCF methods. 

In molecular dynamics applications there is a growing interest in mixed quantum-classical models various kinds of which have been proposed in the current literature. We will concentrate on two of these models the adiabatic or time-dependent Born-Oppenheimer (BO) model, [8, 13], and the so-called QCMD model. Both models describe most atoms of the molecular system by the means of classical mechanics but an important, small portion of the system by the means of a wavefunction. In the BO model this wavefunction is adiabatically coupled to the classical motion while the QCMD model consists of a singularly perturbed Schrddinger equation nonlinearly coupled to classical Newtonian equations, 2.2. 

The goal of this chapter is twofold. First we wish to critically compare—from both a conceptional and a practical point of view—various classical and mixed quantum-classical strategies to describe non-Born-Oppenheimer dynamics. To this end. Section II introduces five multidimensional model problems, each representing a specific challenge for a classical description. Allowing for exact quantum-mechanical reference calculations, aU models have been used as benchmark problems to study approximate descriptions. In what follows, Section III describes in some detail the mean-field trajectory method and also discusses its connection to time-dependent self-consistent-field schemes. The surface-hopping method is considered in Section IV, which discusses various motivations of the ansatz as well as several variants of the implementation. Section V gives a brief account on the quantum-classical Liouville description and considers the possibility of an exact stochastic realization of its equation of motion. 

The various aspects of photoinduced nonadiabatic dynamics are reflected by different time-dependent observables. Following a brief introduction of the observables of interest, we discuss how these quantities are evaluated in a mixed quantum-classical simulation. 

As a first example, let us consider the time-dependent mean position of a normal mode xj of the system. In a mixed quantum-classical calculation, this observable is directly given by the quasiclassical average over the nuclear trajectories x t), that is. 

Koppel [180] has performed exact time-dependent quantum wave-packet propagations for this model, the results of which are depicted in Fig. 2A. He showed that the initially excited C state decays irreversibly into the X state within 250 fs. The decay is nonexponential and exhibits a pronounced beating of the C and B state populations. This model will allow us to test mixed quantum-classical approaches for multistate systems with several conical intersections. 

A mixed quantum classical description of EET does not represent a unique approach. On the one hand side, as already indicated, one may solve the time-dependent Schrodinger equation responsible for the electronic states of the system and couple it to the classical nuclear dynamics. Alternatively, one may also start from the full quantum theory and derive rate equations where, in a second step, the transfer rates are transformed in a mixed description (this is the standard procedure when considering linear or nonlinear optical response functions). Such alternative ways have been already studied in discussing the linear absorbance of a CC in [9] and the computation of the Forster-rate in [10]. 

Be aware of the fact that we have to consider the non-Markovian version of the quantum master equation to stay at a level of description where the emission rate, Eq. (39), can be deduced. Moreover, to be ready for a translation to a mixed quantum classical description a variant has been presented where the time evolution operators might be defined by an explicitly time-dependent CC Hamiltonian, i.e. exp(—iHcc[t — / M) has been replaced by the more general expression Ucc(t,F). 

The standard translation of the full quantum formula of the absorbance, Eq. (31), to a mixed quantum classical description (see, e.g., [16-18]) is similar to what is the essence of the (electronic ground-state) classical path approximation introduced in the foregoing section. One assumes that all involved nuclear coordinates behave classically and their time-dependence is obtained by carrying out MD simulations in the systems electronic ground state. This approach when applied to the absorbance is known as the dynamical classical limit (DCL, see, for example, Res. [17]). 

A delicate point in such mixed quantum-classical schemes is the self-consistency between the classical and quantum motions. The time-dependent variation of the electronic Hamiltonian arising from the nuclear dynamics results in electronic transitions. These quantum transitions, on the other hand, influence the forces on the nuclei, often with dramatic dynamical consequences. 

Recently [8-11] an alternative treatment to mix quantum mechanics with classical mechanics, based on Bohmian quantum trajectories was proposed. Briefly, the quantum subsystem is described by a time-dependent Schrodinger equation that depends parametrically on classical variables. This is similar to other approaches discussed above. The difference comes from the way the classical trajectories are calculated. In our approach, which was called mixed quantum-classical Bohmian (MQCB) trajectories, the wave packet is used to define de Broglie-Bohm quantum trajectories [12] which in turn are used to calculate the force acting on the classical variables. 

Presumably the most straightforward approach to chemical dynamics in intense laser fields is to use the time-independent or time-dependent adiabatic states [352], which are the eigenstates of field-free or field-dependent Hamiltonian at given time points respectively, and solve the Schrodinger equation in a stepwise manner. However, when the laser field is approximately periodic, one can also use a set of field-dressed periodic states as an expansion basis. The set of quasi-static states in a periodic Hamiltonian is derived by a Floquet type analysis and is often referred to as the Floquet states [370]. Provided that the laser field is approximately periodic, advantages of using the latter basis set include (1) analysis and interpretation of the electron dynamics is clearer since the Floquet state population often vary slowly with the timescale of the pulse envelope and each Floquet state is characterized as a field-dressed quasi-stationary state, (2) under some moderate conditions, the nuclear dynamics can be approximated by mixed quantum-classical (MQC) nonadiabatic dynamics on the field-dressed PES. The latter point not only provides a powerful clue for interpretation of nuclear dynamics but also implies possible MQC formulation of intense field molecular dynamics. 

Modem first principles computational methodologies, such as those based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and its Time Dependent extension (TDDFT), provide the theoretical/computational framework to describe most of the desired properties of the individual dye/semiconductor/electrolyte systems and of their relevant interfaces. The information extracted from these calculations constitutes the basis for the explicit simulation of photo-induced electron transfer by means of quantum or non-adiabatic dynamics. The dynamics introduces a further degree of complexity in the simulation, due to the simultaneous description of the coupled nuclear/electronic problem. Various combinations of electronic stmcture/ excited states and nuclear dynamics descriptions have been applied to dye-sensitized interfaces [54—57]. In most cases these approaches rely either on semi-empirical Hamiltonians [58, 59] or on the time-dependent propagation of single particle DFT orbitals [60, 61], with the nuclear dynamics being described within mixed quantum-classical [54, 55, 59, 60] or fuUy quantum mechanical approaches [61]. Real time propagation of the TDDFT excited states [62] has... 

Abstract Mixed-quantum classical dynamics simulations have recently become an important tool for investigations of time-dependent properties of electronically excited molecules, including non-adiabatic effects occurring during internal conversion processes. The high computational costs involved in such simulations have often led to simulation of model compounds instead of the full biochemical system. This chapter reviews recent dynamics results obtained for models of three classes of biologically relevant systems protonated Schiff base chains as models for the chromophore of rhodopsin proteins nucleobases and heteroaromatic rings as models for UV-excited nucleic acids and formamide as a model for photoexcited peptide bonds. 

We have reviewed a series of investigations of 7T-conjugated molecules using mixed quantum-classical dynamics simulations. AH these molecules have been chosen as models for biologically relevant systems. Dynamics simulations are able to provide information on time-dependent phenomena, which can only be obtained in a very indirect way by conventional static quantum-chemistry simulations. The main pieces of information brought by dynamics in excited states are the time constants for the relaxation processes following the photoexcitation and the relative importance of each available pathway. 

Classical Dynamics of Nonequilibrium Processes in Fluids Integrating the Classical Equations of Motion Control of Microworld Chemical and Physical Processes Mixed Quantum-Classical Methods Multiphoton Excitation Non-adiabatic Derivative Couplings Photochemistry Rates of Chemical Reactions Reactive Scattering of Polyatomic Molecules Spectroscopy Computational Methods State to State Reactive Scattering Statistical Adiabatic Channel Models Time-dependent Multiconfigurational Hartree Method Trajectory Simulations of Molecular Collisions Classical Treatment Transition State Theory Unimolecular Reaction Dynamics Valence Bond Curve Crossing Models Vibrational Energy Level Calculations Vibronic Dynamics in Polyatomic Molecules Wave Packets. 

Some degrees of freedom need to be treated by quantum mechanics (e.g., the translational motion of an H atom) while other degrees of freedom (e.g., rotational motion) can often be quite well treated by classical mechanics. This is the idea behind mixed quantum-classical treatments of chemical reactions. Normally the time-dependent Schrodinger equation is solved for the quantum degrees of freedom and Hamilton s equations for the classical degrees of freedom. These methods sometimes go under the title semiclassical and are described in detail in Mixed Quantum-Classical Methods. They have been applied to several reactions of polyatomic molecules such... 

Electron-Molecule Scattering Mixed Quantum-Classical Methods Path Integral Methods Photodissociation Dynamics Rates of Chemical Reactions Reaction Path Hamiltonian and its Use for Investigating Reaction Mechanisms Reactive Scattering of Polyatomic Molecules Time-dependent Multiconfigurational Hartree Method. 

In the adiabatic bend approximation (ABA) for the same reaction,18 the three radial coordinates are explicitly treated while an adiabatic approximation was used for the three angles. These reduced dimensional studies are dynamically approximate in nature, but nevertheless can provide important information characterizing polyatomic reactions, and they have been reviewed extensively by Clary,19 and Bowman and Schatz.20 However, quantitative determination of reaction probabilities, cross-sections and thermal reaction rates, and their relation to the internal states of the reactants would require explicit treatment of five or the full six degrees-of-freedom in these four-atom reactions, which TI methods could not handle. Other approximate quantum approaches such as the negative imaginary potential method16,21 and mixed classical and quantum time-dependent method have also been used.22... 

This mixed classical/quantum expression is valid for classical nuclear behavior and, strictly speaking, for the case of direct two-site interaction rather than superexchange, as the Landau-Zener expression was derived from the time-dependent Schrodinger equation assuming a two-state (reactant/product) electronic system with direct coupling. Nevertheless, it becomes clear on physical grounds that the form of Eqs. 4-5 can serve to define an effective A in the superexchange case in terms of the Rabi precession frequency characteristic of the two trap sites embedded in the complex system wherein 2A/h would be computed from this net effective Rabi precession frequency. 

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