Fermion molecular dynamics in atomic, molecular, and optical physics

Abstract

Classical dynamics, often called 'molecular dynamics' when applied to atoms and molecules, is much easier than solving the many-body Schrodinger equation for a number of reasons. In particular, correlation and rearrangement are simple in classical dynamics. Fermion molecular dynamics (FMD) is a quasi-classical method for treating quantum-mechanical systems using classical equations of motion with momentum-dependent model potentials added to the usual Hamiltonian. These model potentials constrain the motion to satisfy the Heisenberg uncertainty and the Pauli exclusion principles. We discuss the foundations of the FMD model and its applications to atomic and molecular structure, ion-atom collisions, stopping powers, formation of antiprotonic atoms, and multiple ionization of atoms in strong laser fields.