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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Analysis of an ion–atom collision at intermediate velocities by means of quantum trajectories

Lino Ponce

Published Jan 24, 2007• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We present the results of a quantum calculation designed to discuss the dynamics of an ion–atom collision at intermediate velocities. The description is based on a quantum fluid picture. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation is integrated numerically for a model proton–hydrogen collision and quantum trajectories are computed. By these means, we obtain a pictural view of the scattering process. Analysis of the resulting trajectories yields insights into the dynamics of the physical phenomena involved, with special emphasis on ionization.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/40/3/014

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We present the results of a quantum calculation designed to discuss the dynamics of an ion–atom collision at intermediate velocities. The description is based on a quantum fluid picture. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation is integrated numerically for a model proton–hydrogen collision and quantum trajectories are computed. By these means, we obtain a pictural view of the scattering process. Analysis of the resulting trajectories yields insights into the dynamics of the physical phenomena involved, with special emphasis on ionization.
The quantum trajectory method (QTM) is extended to the dynamics of electronic nonadiabiatic collisions. Equations of motion are first derived for the probability density, velocity, and action function for wave packets moving on each of the coupled electronic potential surfaces. These discretized equations are solved in the Lagrangian (moving with the fluid) picture to give the trajectory dynamics of fluid elements evolving on each potential surface. This trajectory method is fully quantum mechanical and does not involve “trajectory surface hopping.” The method is applied to nonadiabiatic collision models involving two coupled electronic states. The quantum trajectory results are in excellent agreement with solutions computed (using space-fixed grid methods) directly from the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.
The simulation of ion-atom collisions remains a formidable challenge due to the complex interplay between electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. We present a hybrid quantum-classical computing framework for simulating time-dependent ion-atom collision dynamics, within which two variational quantum time evolution algorithms are implemented. To validate our framework, we simulate the charge-transfer dynamics and compute the corresponding cross sections for the proton-hydrogen collision system across an energy range 1--25 keV. Our results accurately reproduce the charge-transfer dynamics with high fidelity and exhibit very good agreement with available experimental and theoretical cross-section data across the entire energy range. These results highlight the accuracy and applicability of our hybrid quantum-classical framework for scattering cross-section calculations. Our work demonstrates an effective approach for mapping time-dependent many-body collision problems onto near-term quantum computing devices, and also provides promising directions for practical applications of universal quantum computing in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era.
A trajectory method has been developed for the solution of the one-electron Schrodinger equation in atomic scattering problems. The method is based on the fluid dynamical interpretation of the quantum mechanical probability density and current. The time evolution is described by trajectories of particles, which represent the probability distribution. The trajectories are calculated by solving classical equations of motion with forces depending on the probability density. Results are obtained for the differential and total ionisation and charge exchange cross sections for the scattering of H + on H.
This paper proposes a quantum-fluid density-functional theory (an interlinking of quantum-fluid dynamics and density-functional theory) for dealing with molecular collisions, in order to incorporate both time dependence and excited states. Using a new kinetic energy density functional for ion-atom collisions, we have derived a single-particle time-dependent single density equation for many-electron systems. The equation is a new generalized nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation whose solution directly yields the time-dependent charge density, current density, and a pulsating effective potential surface on which the process occurs. The new equation is also derived through Nelson's stochastic interpretation of the single-particle Schr\"odinger equation. A ``thermodynamics'' of the entire time-evolving system is suggested in terms of space- and time-dependent quantities. New algorithms have been devised for solving the above equation in one and two spatial dimensions, in a succession of time steps. Results have been obtained and analyzed in the approach regime for proton-neon high-energy (25-keV) collisions, which permit excitation but not ionization. These results show distinct nonlinear features.
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