Quantum-Classical Path Integral with Self-Consistent Solvent-Driven Reference Propagators

Abstract

Efficient procedures for evaluating the quantum-classical path integral (QCPI) [J. Chem. Phys. 2013, 137, 22A552] are described. The main idea is to identify a trajectory-specific reference Hamiltonian that captures the dominant effects of the classical "solvent" degrees of freedom on the dynamics of the quantum "system". This time-dependent reference is used to construct a system propagator that is valid for large time increments. Residual "quantum memory" interactions are included via the path integral representation of the density matrix, which converges with large time steps. Two physically motivated reference schemes are considered. The first involves the dynamics of the solvent unperturbed by the system, which forms the basis for the "classical path" approximation. The second is based on solvent trajectories determined self-consistently with the evolution of the system, according to the time-dependent self-consistent field or Ehrenfest model. Application to dissipative two-level systems indicates that both reference schemes allow a substantial increase of the path integral time step, leading to rapid convergence of the path sum. In addition, the time-dependent reference propagators automatically weigh state-to-state coupling against solvent reorganization in the determination of transition probabilities, further enhancing the convergence of the path integral.