How to improve the accuracy of semiclassical and quasiclassical dynamics with and without generalized quantum master equations

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Laskowski, Matthew R., Bhattacharyya, Srijan, Montoya-Castillo, Andrés
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866911485998923776
author Laskowski, Matthew R.
Bhattacharyya, Srijan
Montoya-Castillo, Andrés
author_facet Laskowski, Matthew R.
Bhattacharyya, Srijan
Montoya-Castillo, Andrés
contents Semi- and quasi-classical (SC) theories can handle arbitrary interatomic interactions and are thus well-suited to predict quantum dynamics in condensed phases that encode energy and charge transport, spectroscopic responses, and chemical reactivity. However, SC theories can be computationally expensive and inaccurate. When combined with generalized quantum master equations (GQMEs), the resulting SC-GQMEs have been observed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of SC dynamics. Yet, while the mechanism responsible for improved efficiency is clear, the underlying improved accuracy remains elusive. What is worse, SC-GQMEs can yield unphysical dynamics in challenging parameter regimes -- a shortcoming that might be avoided if the mechanism of accuracy improvement were understood. Here, we uncover this mechanism. We leverage short-time analyses to prove that exact, "left-handed" time-derivatives delay the onset of SC inaccuracy, and show that their numerical integration yields dynamics with improved accuracy, even without the GQME. We find, however, that these derivatives are a double-edged sword: while offering greater short-time accuracy, they become unphysical in challenging parameter regimes. Because short-lived memory kernels can leverage short-time accuracy while circumventing long-time instability, we develop a protocol to unambiguously determine the memory kernel cutoff, even in challenging regimes where previous treatments had failed. Our insights into accuracy improvement and kernel cutoff protocol can be expected to apply to complex systems that go beyond simple models.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_04563
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle How to improve the accuracy of semiclassical and quasiclassical dynamics with and without generalized quantum master equations
Laskowski, Matthew R.
Bhattacharyya, Srijan
Montoya-Castillo, Andrés
Chemical Physics
Statistical Mechanics
Quantum Physics
Semi- and quasi-classical (SC) theories can handle arbitrary interatomic interactions and are thus well-suited to predict quantum dynamics in condensed phases that encode energy and charge transport, spectroscopic responses, and chemical reactivity. However, SC theories can be computationally expensive and inaccurate. When combined with generalized quantum master equations (GQMEs), the resulting SC-GQMEs have been observed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of SC dynamics. Yet, while the mechanism responsible for improved efficiency is clear, the underlying improved accuracy remains elusive. What is worse, SC-GQMEs can yield unphysical dynamics in challenging parameter regimes -- a shortcoming that might be avoided if the mechanism of accuracy improvement were understood. Here, we uncover this mechanism. We leverage short-time analyses to prove that exact, "left-handed" time-derivatives delay the onset of SC inaccuracy, and show that their numerical integration yields dynamics with improved accuracy, even without the GQME. We find, however, that these derivatives are a double-edged sword: while offering greater short-time accuracy, they become unphysical in challenging parameter regimes. Because short-lived memory kernels can leverage short-time accuracy while circumventing long-time instability, we develop a protocol to unambiguously determine the memory kernel cutoff, even in challenging regimes where previous treatments had failed. Our insights into accuracy improvement and kernel cutoff protocol can be expected to apply to complex systems that go beyond simple models.
title How to improve the accuracy of semiclassical and quasiclassical dynamics with and without generalized quantum master equations
topic Chemical Physics
Statistical Mechanics
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.04563