Haobin Wang

Semiclassical approximations for the calculation of thermal rate constants for chemical reactions in complex molecular systems

Two different semiclassical approaches are presented for extending flux correlation function methodology for computing thermal reaction rate constants, which has been extremely successful for the “direct” calculation of rate constants in small molecule (∼3–4u2009atoms) reactions, to complex molecular systems, i.e., those with many degrees of freedom. First is the popular mixed quantum-classical approach that has been widely used by many persons, and second is an approximate version of the semiclassical initial value representation that has recently undergone a rebirth of interest as a way for including quantum effects in molecular dynamics simulations. Both of these are applied to the widely studied system-bath model, a one-dimensional double well potential linearly coupled to an infinite bath of harmonic oscillators. The former approximation is found to be rather poor while the latter is quite good.

Semiclassical theory of electronically nonadiabatic dynamics: Results of a linearized approximation to the initial value representation

A linearized approximation to the semiclassical initial value representation (SC-IVR), referred to herein as the LSC-IVR, was used by us in a recent paper [J. Chem. Phys. 108, 9726 (1998)] to calculate reactive flux correlation functions for a model of a chemical reaction on a single potential energy surface. This paper shows how the LSC-IVR—which is much easier to apply than the full SC-IVR because it linearizes the phase difference between interfering classical trajectories—can be applied to electronically nonadiabatic processes, i.e., those involving transitions between different potential-energy surfaces. Applications to several model problems are presented to show its usefulness: These are the nonadiabatic scattering problems used by Tully to test surface-hopping models, and also the spin–boson model of coupled electronic states in a condensed phase environment. Though not as accurate as the full SC-IVR, the LSC-IVR does a reasonably good job for all these applications, even describing correctly Stuc...

Self-consistent hybrid approach for complex systems: Application to the spin-boson model with Debye spectral density

The self-consistent hybrid approach [H. Wang, M. Thoss, and W. H. Miller, J. Chem. Phys. 115, 2979 (2001), preceding paper] is applied to the spin-boson problem with Debye spectral density as a model for electron-transfer reactions in a solvent exhibiting Debye dielectric relaxation. The population dynamics of the donor and acceptor states in this system is studied for a broad range of parameters, including the adiabatic (slow bath), nonadiabatic (fast bath), as well as the intermediate regime. Based on illustrative examples we discuss the transition from damped coherent dynamics to purely incoherent decay. Using the numerically exact results of the self-consistent hybrid approach as a benchmark, several approximate theories that have been widely used to describe the dynamics in the spin-boson model are tested: the noninteracting blip approximation, the Bloch–Redfield theory, the Smoluchowski-equation treatment of the reaction coordinate (Zusman equations), and the classical path approach (Ehrenfest model...

Generalized forward–backward initial value representation for the calculation of correlation functions in complex systems

The capability of two different, recently proposed semiclassical (SC) forward–backward (FB) initial value representations (IVR) to describe quantum interference and coherence effects is investigated. It is shown that depending on the way the observable under consideration is represented by unitary operators one can obtain rather different results. Although the FB-IVR based on an integral representation as a rule is capable of describing quantum interference, a closer analysis reveals that it depends on the observable under consideration if all interference that can be described semiclassically is actually included in the calculation. To overcome this problem a new, generalized FB-IVR method (GFB-IVR) is proposed, which combines the capability of the SC-IVR to describe quantum interference effects independent of the observable and the better convergence properties of the FB-IVR. The performance of this new approach is studied in some detail. In particular, it is shown that the GFB-IVR can describe both the...

Systematic convergence in the dynamical hybrid approach for complex systems: A numerically exact methodology

An efficient method, the self-consistent hybrid method, is proposed for accurately simulating time-dependent quantum dynamics in complex systems. The method is based on an iterative convergence procedure for a dynamical hybrid approach. In this approach, the overall system is first partitioned into a “core” and a “reservoir” (an initial guess). The former is treated via an accurate quantum mechanical method, namely, the time-dependent multiconfiguration self-consistent field or multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree approach, and the latter is treated via a more approximate method, e.g., classical mechanics, semiclassical initial value representations, quantum perturbation theories, etc. Next, the number of “core” degrees of freedom, as well as other variational parameters, is systematically increased to achieve numerical convergence for the overall quantum dynamics. The method is applied to two examples of quantum dissipative dynamics in the condensed phase: the spin-boson problem and the electronic r...

Semiclassical description of quantum coherence effects and their quenching: A forward-backward initial value representation study

The forward–backward (FB) version of the semiclassical (SC) initial value representation (IVR) is used to study quantum coherence effects in the time-dependent probability distribution of an anharmonic vibrational coordinate and its quenching when coupled to a thermal bath. It is shown that the FB-IVR accurately reproduces the detailed quantum coherent structure in the weak coupling regime, and also describes how this coherence is quenched with an increase of the system–bath coupling and/or the bath temperature. Comparisons are made with other approximations and the physical implications are discussed.

Forward–backward initial value representation for the calculation of thermal rate constants for reactions in complex molecular systems

The semiclassical (SC) initial value representation (IVR) provides a potentially practical way for including quantum effects into classical molecular dynamics simulations. The forward–backward (FB) version of the IVR provides an especially attractive way for calculating time correlation functions, in particular the reactive flux correlation function which determines chemical reaction rates. This paper presents a further analysis and development of the FB-IVR approach. Applications show that it is feasible and accurate for a reaction coordinate coupled to up to 40 degrees of freedom.

Semiclassical study of electronically nonadiabatic dynamics in the condensed-phase: Spin-boson problem with Debye spectral density

The linearized semiclassical initial value representation (LSC-IVR) [H. Wang, X. Sun and W. H. Miller, J. Chem. Phys. 108, 9726 (1998)] is used to study the nonadiabatic dynamics of the spin-boson problem, a system of two electronic states linearly coupled to an infinite bath of harmonic oscillators. The spectral density of the bath is chosen to be of the Debye form, which is often used to model the solution environment of a charge transfer reaction. The simulation provides a rather complete understanding of the electronically nonadiabatic dynamics in a broad parameter space, including coherent to incoherent transitions along all three axes (the T-axis, the η-axis, and the ωc-axis) in the complete phase diagram and the determination of rate constants in several physically interesting regimes. Approximate analytic theories are used to compare with the simulation results, and good agreement is found in the appropriate physical limits.

On the semiclassical description of quantum coherence in thermal rate constants

An earlier paper of ours [J. Chem. Phys. 108, 9726 (1998)] used an approximate (linearized) version of the semiclassical initial value representation (SC-IVR) to calculate reactive flux correlation functions for a model of unimolecular isomerization, namely a 1-d double well potential coupled to an infinite set of harmonic oscillators, obtaining excellent agreement with accurate quantum results for this system. Here we analyze this linearized approximation (LA) further, however, and show that it is not capable of describing quantum interference/coherence effects in the longer time recrossing behavior of the isomerization dynamics. (The recrossing effects seen in our earlier work were due to classical mechanics.) To accentuate quantum effects in the recrossing dynamics, the present article considers the double well potential without the harmonic bath, using both the LA and the full SC-IVR. The results of the calculations show that the flux correlation functions given by the LA agrees well with the exact qu...

Generalized Filinov transformation of the semiclassical initial value representation

An efficient method is proposed for the practical solution of the “sign” problem for integrals involved in the semiclassical initial value representation. It is based on a generalization of the conventional Filinov filtering procedure which has the (approximate) effect of incorporating complex initial conditions into the phase space average; it does this by including an explicit oscillatory term in the filtering function that partially cancels the oscillatory part of the original integrand. A systematic procedure is also described for making an optimal choice of the “smoothing parameters,” thus removing this arbitrariness in the overall approach. Tests on systems with chaotic dynamics demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method.