International Journal of Quantum Chemistry
Relaxation of quantum hydrodynamic modes
Eric R. Bittner, Jeremy B. Maddox, Irène Burghardt
Abstract
Abstract In this article, we develop a series of hierarchical mode‐coupling equations for the momentum cumulants and moments of the density matrix for a mixed quantum system. Working in the Lagrange representation, we show how these can be used to compute quantum trajectories for dissipative and nondissipative systems. This approach is complementary to the de Broglie–Bohm approach in that the moments evolve along hydrodynamic/Lagrangian paths. In the limit of no dissipation, the paths are the Bohmian paths. However, the “quantum force” in our case is represented in terms of momentum fluctuations and an osmotic pressure. Representative calculations for the relaxation of a harmonic system are presented to illustrate the rapid convergence of the cumulant expansion in the presence of a dissipative environment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002