arXiv subjects

Simen Kvaal

Publications and source records attributed to Simen Kvaal.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

An inverse iteration method for eigenvalue problems with eigenvector nonlinearities

Consider a symmetric matrix $A(v)\in\RR^{n\times n}$ depending on a vector $v\in\RR^n$ and satisfying the property $A(αv)=A(v)$ for any $α\in\RR\backslash{0}$. We will here study the problem of finding $(λ,v)\in\RR\times \RR^n\backslash\{0\}$ such that $(λ,v)$ is an eigenpair of the matrix $A(v)$ and we propose a generalization of inverse iteration for eigenvalue problems with this type of eigenvector nonlinearity. The convergence of the proposed method is studied and several convergence properties are shown to be analogous to inverse iteration for standard eigenvalue problems, including local convergence properties. The algorithm is also shown to be equivalent to a particular discretization of an associated ordinary differential equation, if the shift is chosen in a particular way. The algorithm is adapted to a variant of the Schrödinger equation known as the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We use numerical simulations toillustrate the convergence properties, as well as the efficiency of the algorithm and the adaption.

math.NA↗

arXiv2012

The choice of basic variables in current-density functional theory

The selection of basic variables in current-density functional theory and formal properties of the resulting formulations are critically examined. Focus is placed on the extent to which the Hohenberg--Kohn theorem, constrained-search approach and Lieb's formulation (in terms of convex and concave conjugation) of standard density-functional theory can be generalized to provide foundations for current-density functional theory. For the well-known case with the gauge-dependent paramagnetic current density as a basic variable, we find that the resulting total energy functional is not concave. It is shown that a simple redefinition of the scalar potential restores concavity and enables the application of convex analysis and convex/concave conjugation. As a result, the solution sets arising in potential-optimization problems can be given a simple characterization. We also review attempts to establish theories with the physical current density as a basic variable. Despite the appealing physical motivation behind this choice of basic variables, we find that the mathematical foundations of the theories proposed to date are unsatisfactory. Moreover, the analogy to standard density-functional theory is substantially weaker as neither the constrained-search approach nor the convex analysis framework carry over to a theory making use of the physical current density.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Ab initio quantum dynamics using coupled-cluster

The curse of dimensionality (COD) limits the current state-of-the-art {\it ab initio} propagation methods for non-relativistic quantum mechanics to relatively few particles. For stationary structure calculations, the coupled-cluster (CC) method overcomes the COD in the sense that the method scales polynomially with the number of particles while still being size-consistent and extensive. We generalize the CC method to the time domain while allowing the single-particle functions to vary in an adaptive fashion as well, thereby creating a highly flexible, polynomially scaling approximation to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The method inherits size-consistency and extensivity from the CC method. The method is dubbed orbital-adaptive time-dependent coupled-cluster (OATDCC), and is a hierarchy of approximations to the now standard multi-configurational time-dependent Hartree method for fermions. A numerical experiment is also given.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method for describing particle loss due to absorbing boundary conditions

Absorbing boundary conditions in the form of a complex absorbing potential are routinely introduced in the Schrödinger equation to limit the computational domain or to study reactive scattering events using the multi-configurational time-dependent Hartree method (MCTDH). However, it is known that a pure wave-function description does not allow the modeling and propagation of the remnants of a system of which some parts are removed by the absorbing boundary. It was recently shown [S. Selstø and S. Kvaal, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. {\bfseries 43} (2010), 065004] that a master equation of Lindblad form was necessary for such a description. We formulate a multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method for this master equation, usable for any quantum system composed of any mixture of species. The formulation is a strict generalization of pure-state propagation using standard MCTDH. We demonstrate the formulation with a numerical experiment.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Computing singularities of perturbation series

Many properties of current \emph{ab initio} approaches to the quantum many-body problem, both perturbational or otherwise, are related to the singularity structure of Rayleigh--Schrödinger perturbation theory. A numerical procedure is presented that in principle computes the complete set of singularities, including the dominant singularity which limits the radius of convergence. The method approximates the singularities as eigenvalues of a certain generalized eigenvalue equation which is solved using iterative techniques. It relies on computation of the action of the perturbed Hamiltonian on a vector, and does not rely on the terms in the perturbation series. Some illustrative model problems are studied, including a Helium-like model with $δ$-function interactions for which Møller--Plesset perturbation theory is considered and the radius of convergence found.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

The role of final state correlation in double ionization of helium: a master equation approach

The process of nonsequential two-photon double ionization of helium is studied by two complementary numerical approaches. First, the time-dependent Schr{ö}dinger equation is solved and the final wave function is analyzed in terms of projection onto eigenstates of the uncorrelated Hamiltonian, i.e., with no electron-electron interaction included in the final states. Then, the double ionization probability is found by means of a recently developed approach in which the concept of absorbing boundaries has been generalized to apply to systems consisting of more than one particle. This generalization is achieved through the Lindblad equation. A model of reduced dimensionality, which describes the process at a qualitative level, has been used. The agreement between the methods provides a strong indication that procedures using projections onto uncorrelated continuum states are adequate when extracting total cross sections for the direct double ionization process.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Absorbing boundary conditions for dynamical many-body quantum systems

In numerical studies of the dynamics of unbound quantum mechanical systems, absorbing boundary conditions are frequently applied. Although this certainly provides a useful tool in facilitating the description of the system, its applications to systems consisting of more than one particle is problematic. This is due to the fact that all information about the system is lost upon absorption of one particle; a formalism based solely on the Scrh{ö}dinger equation is not able to describe the remainder of the system as particles are lost. Here we demonstrate how the dynamics of a quantum system with a given number of identical fermions may be described in a manner which allows for particle loss. A consistent formalism which incorporates the evolution of sub-systems with a reduced number of particles is constructed through the Lindblad equation. Specifically, the transition from an $N$-particle system to an $(N-1)$-particle system due to a complex absorbing potential is achieved by relating the Lindblad operators to annihilation operators. The method allows for a straight forward interpretation of how many constituent particles have left the system after interaction. We illustrate the formalism using one-dimensional two-particle model problems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Manifestly gauge invariant discretizations of the Schrödinger equation

Grid-based discretizations of the time dependent Schrödinger equation coupled to an external magnetic field are converted to manifest gauge invariant discretizations. This is done using generalizations of ideas used in classical lattice gauge theory, and the process defined is applicable to a large class of discretized differential operators. In particular, popular discretizations such as pseudospectral discretizations using the fast Fourier transform can be transformed to gauge invariant schemes. Also generic gauge invariant versions of generic time integration methods are considered, enabling completely gauge invariant calculations of the time dependent Schrödinger equation. Numerical examples illuminating the differences between a gauge invariant discretization and conventional discretization procedures are also presented.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2009

Harmonic oscillator eigenfunction expansions, quantum dots, and effective interactions

We give a thorough analysis of the convergence properties of the configuration-interaction method as applied to parabolic quantum dots among other systems, including \emph{a priori} error estimates. The method converges slowly in general, and in order to overcome this, we propose to use an effective two-body interaction well-known from nuclear physics. Through numerical experiments we demonstrate a significant increase in accuracy of the configuration interaction method.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2008

Open source FCI code for quantum dots and effective interactions

We describe OpenFCI, an open source implementation of the full configuration-interaction method (FCI) for two-dimensional quantum dots with optional use of effective renormalized interactions. The code is written in C++ and is available under the Gnu General Public License. The code and core libraries are well documented and structured in a way such that customizations and generalizations to other systems and numerical methods are easy tasks. As examples we provide a matrix element tabulation program and an implementation of a simple model from nuclear physics, in addition to the quantum dot application itself.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Geometry of effective Hamiltonians

We give a complete geometrical description of the effective Hamiltonians common in nuclear shell model calculations. By recasting the theory in a manifestly geometric form, we reinterpret and clarify several points. Some of these results are hitherto unknown or unpublished. In particular, commuting observables and symmetries are discussed in detail. Simple and explicit proofs are given, and numerical algorithms are proposed, that improve and stabilize common methods used today.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2007

Effective interactions and large-scale diagonalization for quantum dots

The widely used large-scale diagonalization method using harmonic oscillator basis functions (an instance of the Rayleigh-Ritz method, also called a spectral method, configuration-interaction method, or ``exact diagonalization'' method) is systematically analyzed using results for the convergence of Hermite function series. We apply this theory to a Hamiltonian for a one-dimensional model of a quantum dot. The method is shown to converge slowly, and the non-smooth character of the interaction potential is identified as the main problem with the chosen basis, while on the other hand its important advantages are pointed out. An effective interaction obtained by a similarity transformation is proposed for improving the convergence of the diagonalization scheme, and numerical experiments are performed to demonstrate the improvement. Generalizations to more particles and dimensions are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗