Electron wave packets: Quantum statistics in path integral representation

Abstract

Fundamental relations between ensemble-averaged kinetic energy, pressure, and virial are obtained for quantum many-particle systems at finite temperatures. A path-integral method is developed for calculating kinetic energy for mixed (quantum-classical) systems. The method eliminates the problem of divergent variance. Path-integral Monte Carlo simulations are performed to validate the method as applied to single-electron and electron-pair wave packets, with exact treatment of exchange symmetry and spin states. Quantitative results are compared with corresponding characteristics calculated for point charges.