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arXiv:2304.10526 · Journal of Statistical Physics

Foundation of classical dynamical density functional theory: uniqueness of time-dependent density–potential mappings

Michael A. Klatt, Christian Bair, Hartmut Löwen, René Wittmann

Published May 18, 2026• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract When can we map a classical density profile to an external potential? In equilibrium, without time dependence, the one-body density is known to specify the external potential that is applied to the many-body system. This mapping from a density to the potential is the cornerstone of classical density functional theory (DFT). Here, we consider non-equilibrium, time-dependent many-body systems that evolve from a given initial condition. We derive explicit conditions, for example, no flux at the boundary, that ensure that the mapping from the density to a time-dependent external potential is unique. We thus prove the underlying assertion of dynamical density functional theory (DDFT) — without resorting to the so-called adiabatic approximation often used in applications. By ascertaining uniqueness for all n -body densities, we ensure that the proof — and the physical conclusions drawn from it — hold for general superadiabatic dynamics of interacting systems even in the presence of (known) non-conservative forces.

DOI
10.1007/s10955-026-03618-x

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Abstract When can we map a classical density profile to an external potential? In equilibrium, without time dependence, the one-body density is known to specify the external potential that is applied to the many-body system. This mapping from a density to the potential is the cornerstone of classical density functional theory (DFT). Here, we consider non-equilibrium, time-dependent many-body systems that evolve from a given initial condition. We derive explicit conditions, for example, no flux at the boundary, that ensure that the mapping from the density to a time-dependent external potential is unique. We thus prove the underlying assertion of dynamical density functional theory (DDFT) — without resorting to the so-called adiabatic approximation often used in applications. By ascertaining uniqueness for all n -body densities, we ensure that the proof — and the physical conclusions drawn from it — hold for general superadiabatic dynamics of interacting systems even in the presence of (known) non-conservative forces.
Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) for quantum many-body systems on a lattice is formulated rigorously. We prove the uniqueness of the density-to-potential mapping and demonstrate that a given density is vvv representable if the initial many-body state and the density satisfy certain well-defined conditions. In particular, we show that for a system evolving from its ground state any density with a continuous second time derivative is locally in time vvv representable and therefore the lattice TDDFT is guaranteed to exist. The TDDFT existence and uniqueness theorem is valid for any connected lattice, independently of its size, geometry, and/or spatial dimensionality. General statements of the existence theorem are illustrated on a pedagogical exactly solvable example, which displays all the details and subtleties of the proof in a transparent form. In conclusion we briefly discuss remaining open problems and directions for future research.
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This thesis is devoted to the formulation and implications of the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The work is divided into two main parts. In the first part we develop rigorous theorems for the density-potential mapping in quantum many-body systems on a lattice. We prove the uniqueness of the TDDFT map and demonstrate that a given density is v-representable if the initial many-body state and the density satisfy certain well defined conditions. In particular, we show that for a system evolving from its ground state any density with a continuous second time derivative is v-representable. Then the lattice TDDFT formulation is extended to cover system of interacting lattice electrons strongly coupled to cavity photons.We prove that under some mathematical conditions the electron-photon wave function is a unique functional of the electronic density and the expectation value of the photonic coordinate. Then we further generalize the ground state v representability theorem to include the ground state of a general lattice electron-photon Hamiltonian.
Under reasonable assumptions the time-dependent particle density $n(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ and the current density $\stackrel{P\vec}{j}(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ of a many-particle system that evolves under the action of external scalar and vector potentials $V(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ and $\stackrel{P\vec}{A}(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ and is initially in the quantum state $\ensuremath{\mid}\ensuremath{\psi}(0)⟩$ can be reproduced in another many-particle system with a different two-particle interaction, subjected to external potentials ${V}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ and ${\stackrel{P\vec}{A}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ and starting from an initial state $\ensuremath{\mid}{\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(0)⟩$, which yields the same density and current as $\ensuremath{\mid}\ensuremath{\psi}(0)⟩$. Here we show that given the initial state of this other many-particle system, the potentials ${V}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$ and ${\stackrel{P\vec}{A}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\stackrel{P\vec}{r},t)$, if they exist, are uniquely determined up to gauge transformations that do not alter the initial state. As a special case, we obtain a simpler proof of the Runge-Gross theorem for time-dependent current density functional theory. This theorem provides a formal basis for the application of time-dependent current density functional theory to transport problems.
We show that a time-dependent particle density n(rt)n(\mathbf{r}t)n(rt) obtained from a given many-particle system can, under mild restrictions on the initial state, always be reproduced by an external potential ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\mathbf{r}t)$ in a many-particle system with different two-particle interactions. Given the initial state of this other many-particle system, the potential ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\mathbf{r}t)$ is unique up to a purely time-dependent function. As a special case we obtain the well-known Runge-Gross theorem.
In this work we review the mapping from densities to potentials in quantum mechanics, which is the basic building block of time-dependent density-functional theory and the Kohn-Sham construction. We first present detailed conditions such that a mapping from potentials to densities is defined by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We specifically discuss intricacies connected with the unboundedness of the Hamiltonian and derive the local-force equation. This equation is then used to set up an iterative sequence that determines a potential that generates a specified density via time propagation of an initial state. This fixed-point procedure needs the invertibility of a certain Sturm-Liouville problem, which we discuss for different situations. Based on these considerations we then present a discussion of the famous Runge-Gross theorem which provides a density-potential mapping for time-analytic potentials. Further we give conditions such that the general fixed-point approach is well-defined and converges under certain assumptions. Then the application of such a fixed-point procedure to lattice Hamiltonians is discussed and the numerical realization of the density-potential mapping is shown. We conclude by presenting an extension of the density-potential mapping to include vector-potentials and photons.