The Semiclassical Way to Dynamics and Spectroscopy / Eric J. Heller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heller, Eric J., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Quantum theory.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (473 pages)

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2018]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A graduate-level text that examines the semiclassical approach to quantum mechanicsPhysical systems have been traditionally described in terms of either classical or quantum mechanics. But in recent years, semiclassical methods have developed rapidly, providing deep physical insight and computational tools for quantum dynamics and spectroscopy. In this book, Eric Heller introduces and develops this subject, demonstrating its power with many examples. In the first half of the book, Heller covers relevant aspects of classical mechanics, building from them the semiclassical way through the semiclassical limit of the Feynman path integral. The second half of the book applies this approach to various kinds of spectroscopy, such as molecular spectroscopy and electron imaging and quantum dynamical systems with an emphasis on tunneling. Adopting a distinctly time-dependent viewpoint, Heller argues for semiclassical theories from experimental and theoretical vantage points valuable to research in physics and chemistry. Featuring more than two hundred figures, the book provides a geometric, phase-space, and coordinate-space pathway to greater understanding.Filled with practical examples and applications, The Semiclassical Way to Dynamics and Spectroscopy is a comprehensive presentation of the tools necessary to successfully delve into this unique area of quantum mechanics.A comprehensive approach for using classical mechanics to do quantum mechanicsMore than two hundred figures to assist intuitionEmphasis on semiclassical Green function and wave packet perspective, as well as tunneling and spectroscopyChapters include quantum mechanics of classically chaotic systems, quantum scarring, and other modern dynamical topics

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

PART I. CLASSICAL MECHANICS WITH AN EYE TO QUANTUM MECHANICS

Chapter 1. The Lagrangian and the Action

Chapter 2. Canonical Transformations

Chapter 3. Time Evolution in Phase Space

Chapter 4. Classical Resonance Theory

PART II. QUANTUM AND SEMICLASSICAL MECHANICS

Chapter 5. Aspects of Time-Dependent Quantum Mechanics

Chapter 6. Stationary Phase Integration

Chapter 7. Feynman Path Integral to Van Vleck Propagator

Chapter 8. Stressing the VVMG Propagator

Chapter 9. Phase Space Representations of Wavefunctions and Densities

Chapter 10. Gaussian Wavepackets and Linear Dynamics

Chapter 11. Gaussian Wavepacket Methods for Nonlinear Time Evolution

Chapter 12. WKB Methods

Chapter 13. Tunneling

Chapter 14. Bixon-Jortner and Fano-Anderson Models

Chapter 15. Power of Degeneracy

PART III. APPLICATIONS TO SPECTROSCOPY

Chapter 16. Born-Oppenheimer Approximation and Its Implications

Chapter 17. Time-Dependent Formulations of Spectroscopy

Chapter 18. Semiclassical Spectroscopy

Chapter 19. Semiclassical Dynamics and One-Photon Spectroscopy

Chapter 20. Semiclassical Dynamics and Two-Photon Spectroscopy: Raman Scattering

PART IV. CHAOS AND QUANTUM MECHANICS

Chapter 21. Aspects of Quantum Chaology

Chapter 22. Quantum Scars of Classical Periodic Orbits

Chapter 23. Random Waves and Nodal Structure of Eigenstates

Chapter 24. Branched Flow

Chapter 25. Decoherence

Chapter 26. Multiple Scattering Theory

Appendix

Further Reading

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

ISBN:

9781400890293

1400890292

OCLC:

1034625177