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At least 73 records · Page 4

Iterative subspace algorithms for finite-temperature solution of Dyson equation

One-particle Green’s functions obtained from the self-consistent solution of the Dyson equation can be employed in the evaluation of spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties for both molecules and solids. However, typical acceleration techniques used in the traditional quantum chemistry self-consistent algorithms cannot be easily deployed for the Green’s function methods because of a non-convex grand potential functional and a non-idempotent density matrix. Moreover, the optimization problem can become more challenging due to the inclusion of correlation effects, changing chemical potential, and fluctuations of the number of particles. In this paper, we study acceleration techniques to target the self-consistent solution of the Dyson equation directly. We use the direct inversion in the iterative subspace (DIIS), the least-squared commutator in the iterative subspace (LCIIS), and the Krylov space accelerated inexact Newton method (KAIN). We observe that the definition of the residual has a significant impact on the convergence of the iterative procedure. Based on the Dyson equation, we generalize the concept of the commutator residual used in DIIS and LCIIS and compare it with the difference residual used in DIIS and KAIN. The commutator residuals outperform the difference residuals for all considered molecular and solid systems within both GW and GF2. For a number of bond-breaking problems, we found that an easily obtained high-temperature solution with effectively suppressed correlations is a very effective starting point for reaching convergence of the problematic low-temperature solutions through a sequential reduction of temperature during calculations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Many-fermion simulation from the contracted quantum eigensolver without fermionic encoding of the wave function

Quantum computers potentially have an exponential advantage over classical computers for the quantum simulation of many-fermion quantum systems. Nonetheless, fermions are more expensive to simulate than bosons due to the fermionic encoding—a mapping by which the qubits are encoded with fermion statistics. Here we generalize the contracted quantum eigensolver (CQE) to avoid fermionic encoding of the wave function. In contrast to the variational quantum eigensolver, the CQE solves for a many-fermion stationary state by minimizing the contraction (projection) of the Schrödinger equation onto two fermions. We avoid fermionic encoding of the wave function by contracting the Schrödinger equation onto an unencoded pair of particles. Solution of the resulting contracted equation by a series of unencoded two-body exponential transformations generates an unencoded wave function from which the energy and two-fermion reduced density matrix (2-RDM) can be computed. We apply the unencoded and the encoded CQE algorithms to the hydrogen fluoride molecule, the dissociation of oxygen O 2 , and a series of hydrogen chains. Both algorithms show comparable convergence towards the exact ground-state energies and 2-RDMs, but the unencoded algorithm has computational advantages in terms of state preparation and tomography.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Quantum optimal control for pure-state preparation using one initial state

This paper presents a framework for solving the pure-state preparation problem using numerical optimal control. As an example, we consider the case where a number of qubits are dispersively coupled to a readout cavity. Herein, we model open system quantum dynamics using the Markovian Lindblad master equation driven by external control pulses. The main result of this paper develops a basis of density matrices (a parameterization) where each basis element is a density matrix by itself. Utilizing a specific objective function, we show how an ensemble of the basis elements can be used as a single initial state throughout the optimization process—independent of the system dimension. We apply the general framework to the specific application of ground-state reset of one and two qubits coupled to a readout cavity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Mixed quantum–classical approach to model non-adiabatic electron–nuclear dynamics: Detailed balance and improved surface hopping method

We develop a density matrix formalism to describe coupled electron–nuclear dynamics. To this end, we introduce an effective Hamiltonian formalism that describes electronic transitions and small (quantum) nuclear fluctuations along a classical trajectory of the nuclei. Using this Hamiltonian, we derive equations of motion for the electronic occupation numbers and for the nuclear coordinates and momenta. We show that, in the limit, when the number of nuclear degrees of freedom coupled to a given electronic transition is sufficiently high (i.e., the strong decoherence limit), the equations of motion for the electronic occupation numbers become Markovian. Furthermore, the transition rates in these (rate) equations are asymmetric with respect to the lower-to-higher energy transitions and vice versa. In thermal equilibrium, such asymmetry corresponds to the detailed balance condition. We also study the equations for the electronic occupations in the non-Markovian regime and develop a surface hopping algorithm based on our formalism. To treat the decoherence effects, we introduce additional “virtual” nuclear wave packets whose interference with the “real” (physical) wave packets leads to the reduction in coupling between the electronic states (i.e., decoherence) as well as to the phase shifts that improve the accuracy of the numerical approach. Remarkably, the same phase shifts lead to the detailed balance condition in the strong decoherence limit.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Improved Kelbg Potentials for Z > 1 and Application to Carbon Plasmas

In this work, we present a general form for the electron‐ion diffractive potential derived from the quantum pair density matrix and fit to the improved Kelbg potential for atomic numbers up to $Z = 54$. We apply classical molecular dynamics using the improved Kelbg potential for carbon with various forms of the Pauli potential to compute internal energies and pressures for hot, dense plasma conditions. Our results are compared to an equation of state model based on path integral Monte Carlo and density functional theory simulations to examine the extent to which the improved Kelbg potential reproduces the internal energy and pressure of carbon plasmas. The regions of validity for carbon agree generally with those derived previously for hydrogen once pressure ionization effects are incorporated. Based on our carbon results and previously published hydrogen studies, we discuss the general applicability and limitations of these potentials for equation of state studies in warm dense matter and high energy density plasmas.

general physics↗

Solving puzzles in deformed JT gravity: phase transitions and non-perturbative effects

Recent work has shown that certain deformations of the scalar potential in Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity can be written as double-scaled matrix models. However, some of the deformations exhibit an apparent breakdown of unitarity in the form of a negative spectral density at disc order. We show here that the source of the problem is the presence of a multi-valued solution of the leading order matrix model string equation. While for a class of deformations we fix the problem by identifying a first order phase transition, for others we show that the theory is both perturbatively and non-perturbatively inconsistent. Aspects of the phase structure of the deformations are mapped out, using methods known to supply a non-perturbative definition of undeformed JT gravity. Some features are in qualitative agreement with a semi-classical analysis of the phase structure of two-dimensional black holes in these deformed theories.

2D gravity↗

Symmetry and scaling in one-dimensional compressible two-phase flow

Investigations of shock compression of heterogeneous materials often focus on the shock front width and overall profile. The number of experiments required to fully characterize the dynamic response of a material often belie the structure–property relationships governing these aspects of a shock wave. Recent observations measured a pronounced shock-front width on the order of 10 s of ns in particulate composites. We focus on particulate composites with disparate densities and investigate whether the mechanical interactions between the phases are adequate to describe this emergent behavior. The analysis proceeds with a general Mie–Grüneisen equation of state for the matrix material, a general drag force law with general power-law scaling for the particle-matrix coupling of the phases, and a volume fraction-dependent viscosity. Lie group analysis is applied to one-dimensional hydrodynamic flow equations for the self-consistent interaction of particles embedded in a matrix material. The particle phase is characterized by a particle size and volume fraction. The Lie group analysis results in self-similar solutions reflecting the symmetries of the flow. The symmetries lead to well-defined scaling laws, which may be used to characterize the propagation of shock waves in particle composites. An example of the derived scaling laws for shock attenuation and rise time is shown for experimental data on shock-driven tungsten-loaded polymers. A key result of the Lie analysis is that there is a relationship between the exponents characterizing the form of the drag force and the exponent characterizing the shock velocity and its attenuation in a particulate composite. Comparison to recent experiments results in a single exponent that corresponds to a conventional drag force.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electronic energy gap closure and metal-insulator transition in dense liquid hydrogen

Here, using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) calculations, we investigate the insulator-metal transition observed in liquid hydrogen at high pressure. Below the critical temperature of the transition from the molecular to the atomic liquid, the fundamental electronic gap closure occurs abruptly, with a small discontinuity reflecting the weak first-order transition in the thermodynamic equation of state. Above the critical temperature, molecular dissociation sets in while the gap is still open. When the gap closes, the decay of the off-diagonal reduced density matrix shows that the liquid enters a gapless, but localized, phase: there is a crossover between the insulating and the metallic liquids. Compared to different density functional theory (DFT) functionals, our QMC calculations provide larger values for the fundamental gap and the electronic density of states close to the band edges, indicating that optical properties from DFT potentially benefit from error cancellations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Pressure-induced 𝐵⁢1 to 𝐵⁢2 phase transition in CeN studied by 𝑎⁢𝑏 𝑖⁢𝑛⁢𝑖⁢𝑡⁢𝑖⁢𝑜 correlation matrix renormalization theory calculations

We apply correlation matrix renormalization theory (CMRT) to cerium nitride (CeN) under pressure. For 𝐵⁢1 (NaCl-type) phase, CMRT gives an equation of state consistent with ambient pressure experiments. It produces electronic density-of-state (DOS) characterized by a sharp 4⁢𝑓 quasiparticle resonance peak pinned at the Fermi level and two subbands formed by strong hybridization between the localized Ce-4⁢𝑓 electrons and the itinerant Ce-5⁢𝑑 and N-2⁢𝑝 electrons below the Fermi level, consistent with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy experiments. Upon compression, CMRT predicts a first-order 𝐵⁢1 → 𝐵⁢2 (CsCl-type) transition with ∼11% volume collapse in agreement with experiments. Across the transition, the 4⁢𝑓 spectrum broadens, the 4⁢𝑓 orbital occupancy increases, and the hybridization with conduction states enhances, signaling a crossover from partially localized to more itinerant 4⁢𝑓 behavior. Furthermore, these features are in excellent agreement with experimental observations, demonstrating that CMRT provides a parameter-free description and prediction of correlation-driven structural and electronic transitions in rare-earth compounds.

Ab initio calculations↗

Inertial dynamics of an interface with interfacial mass flux: Stability and flow fields’ structure, inertial stabilization mechanism, degeneracy of Landau’s solution, effect of energy fluctuations, and chemistry-induced instabilities

This work focuses on the long-standing problem of inertial dynamics of an interface with interfacial mass flux and reports new mechanisms for the interface stabilization and destabilization. The interface is a phase boundary separating fluids of different densities and having interfacial mass flux. To analyze the interface dynamics from a far field, we develop and apply the general matrix method to rigorously solve the boundary value problem involving the governing equations in the fluid bulk and the boundary conditions at the interface and at the outside boundaries of the domain. We find the fundamental solutions for the linearized system of equations and analyze the interplay of interface stability with flow fields’ structure by directly linking rigorous mathematical attributes to physical observables. We find that the interface is stable when the dynamics conserves the fluxes of mass, momentum, and energy; the stabilization is due to an inertial mechanism causing small oscillations of the interface velocity. In the classic Landau’s dynamics, the postulate of perfect constancy of the interface velocity leads to the development of Landau–Darrieus instability. This destabilization is also linked to the imbalance of the perturbed energy at the interface. The classic Landau’s solution is found to have degeneracy; lifting of the degeneracy may lead to singularity and self-similar dynamics. Our results compare well with traditional theories of combustion and propose new experiments to study the dynamics of the interface and the flow fields in combustible systems. We further conduct reactive molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the complexity of chemical processes, to study the destabilizing effect of energy fluctuations on the interface stability, and to illustrate the chemistry-induced instabilities. In summary, we identify the extreme sensitivity of the interface dynamics to the interfacial boundary conditions, including the formal properties of fundamental solutions and the qualitative and quantitative properties of the flow fields. This provides new opportunities for studies, diagnostics, and control of multiphase flows in a broad range of processes in nature and technology.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Analysis of the neutron matter equation of state and the symmetry energy up to fourth order of chiral effective field theory

We present predictions for the neutron matter equation of state, from leading to fourth order of chiral effective field theory, using recently developed, accurate chiral nucleon-nucleon potentials. For the many-body method, we employ the nonperturbative particle-particle ladder approximation, that is, we solve the G-matrix equation. Furthermore, we find the impact of subleading three-neutron forces to be mild and attractive. We also show order-by-order predictions for the symmetry energy, and discuss its density dependence in relation to empirical constraints. For the nuclear matter equation of state, in this work we adopt an empirical parametrization with good saturation properties. This is to highlight, specifically, the energy and pressure in neutron matter, particularly when comparing with empirical constraints.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Exact two-body expansion of the many-particle wave function

Progress toward the solution of the strongly correlated electron problem has been stymied by the exponential complexity of the wave function. Previous work established an exact two-body exponential product expansion for the ground-state wave function. By developing a reduced density-matrix analog of Dalgarno-Lewis perturbation theory, we prove here that (i) the two-body exponential product expansion is rapidly and globally convergent with each operator representing an order of a renormalized perturbation theory, (ii) the energy of the expansion converges quadratically near the solution, and (iii) the expansion is exact for both ground and excited states. The two-body expansion offers a reduced parametrization of the many-particle wave function as well as the two-particle reduced density matrix with potential applications on both conventional and quantum computers for the study of strongly correlated quantum systems. In this work, we demonstrate the result with the exact solution of the contracted Schrödinger equation for the molecular chains H 4 and H 5 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Phase-field modeling of radiation-induced segregation for multicomponent alloys

Structural alloys under irradiation are known to undergo radiation-induced solute redistribution (RIS) at grain boundaries, leading to detrimental effects such as intergranular corrosion and stress-assisted cracking. To better understand the phenomenon, improved models of RIS applicable to concentrated, multicomponent alloys, and mesoscale microstructures are needed. In this talk, we present a novel grand-potential-based phase-field model to account for the complete set of multicomponent kinetic and thermodynamic couplings between atoms and point defects in the Onsager transport equations. We demonstrate multiscale modeling capability by deriving the Onsager coefficient matrix from atomistic-based Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Model predictions and validations of RIS and the effect of defect production, grain boundary sink strength and density are demonstrated for a model FCC FeCrNi system. We also demonstrate the novel capability to describe RIS in the presence of equilibrium segregation described using a density-based CALPHAD thermodynamic framework. This modeling approach overcomes certain limitations in conventional RIS models and provides a step closer towards multiscale modeling.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Emergent viscous hydrodynamics from a single quantum particle

We investigate an explicit example of how spatial decoherence can lead to hydrodynamic behavior in the late-time, long-wavelength regime of open quantum systems. We focus on the case of a single nonrelativistic quantum particle linearly coupled to a thermal bath of noninteracting harmonic oscillators at temperature T , a la Caldeira and Leggett. Taking advantage of decoherence in the position representation, we expand the reduced density matrix in powers of the off-diagonal spatial components, so that high-order terms are suppressed at late times. Truncating the resulting power series at second order leads to a set of dissipative transient hydrodynamic equations similar to the nonrelativistic limit of equations widely used in simulations of the quark-gluon plasma formed in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. Transport coefficients are directly determined by the damping constant γ , which quantifies the influence of the environment. The asymptotic limit of our hydrodynamic equations reduces to the celebrated Navier-Stokes equations for a compressible fluid in the presence of a drag force. Furthermore, our results shed new light on the onset of hydrodynamic behavior in open quantum systems where a system with few degrees of freedom is coupled to a large thermal environment.

Hydrodynamics↗

Photoluminescence of Cis-Polyacetylene Semiconductor Material

Photoluminescence (PL) is one of the key experimental characterizations of optoelectronic materials, including conjugated polymers (CPs). In this study, a simplified model of an undoped cis-polyacetylene (cis-PA) oligomer was selected and used to explain the mechanism of photoluminescence (PL) of the CPs. Using a combination of the ab initio electronic structure and a time-dependent density matrix methodology, the photo-induced time-dependent excited state dynamics were computed. We explored the phonon-induced relaxation of the photoexcited state for a single oligomer of cis-PA. Here, the dissipative Redfield equation of the motion was used to compute the dissipative excited state dynamics of electronic degrees of freedom. This equation used the nonadiabatic couplings as parameters. The computed excited state dynamics showed that the relaxation rate of the electron is faster than the relaxation rate of the hole. The dissipative excited-state dynamics were combined with radiative recombination channels to predict the PL spectrum. The simulated results showed that the absorption and emission spectra both have a similar transition. The main result is that the computed PL spectrum demonstrates two mechanisms of light emission originating from (i) the inter-band transitions, corresponding to the same range of transition energies as the absorption spectrum and (ii) intra-band transitions not available in the absorption spectra. However, the dissipative Redfield equation of the motion was used to compute the electronic degrees of freedom of the nonadiabatic couplings, which helped to process the time propagation of the excited dynamic state. This excited dynamic state shows that the relaxation rate of the electron is faster than the relaxation rate of the hole, which can be used for improving organic semiconductor materials for photovoltaic and LED applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nonadiabatic dynamics with classical trajectories: The problem of an initial coherent superposition of electronic states

Advances in coherent light sources and development of pump–probe techniques in recent decades have opened the way to study electronic motion in its natural time scale. When an ultrashort laser pulse interacts with a molecular target, a coherent superposition of electronic states is created and the triggered electron dynamics is coupled to the nuclear motion. A natural and computationally efficient choice to simulate this correlated dynamics is a trajectory-based method where the quantum-mechanical electronic evolution is coupled to a classical-like nuclear dynamics. These methods must approximate the initial correlated electron–nuclear state by associating an initial electronic wavefunction to each classical trajectory in the ensemble. Different possibilities exist that reproduce the initial populations of the exact molecular wavefunction when represented in a basis. We show that different choices yield different dynamics and explore the effect of this choice in Ehrenfest, surface hopping, and exact-factorization-based coupled-trajectory schemes in a one-dimensional two-electronic-state model system that can be solved numerically exactly. Furthermore, this work aims to clarify the problems that standard trajectory-based techniques might have when a coherent superposition of electronic states is created to initialize the dynamics, to discuss what properties and observables are affected by different choices of electronic initial conditions and to point out the importance of quantum-momentum-induced electronic transitions in coupled-trajectory schemes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Density Matrix Implementation of the Fermi–Löwdin Orbital Self-Interaction Correction Method

The Fermi–Löwdin orbital self-interaction correction (FLOSIC) method effectively provides a transformation from canonical orbitals to localized Fermi–Löwdin orbitals which are used to remove the self-interaction error in the Perdew–Zunger (PZ) framework. This transformation is solely determined by a set of points in space, called Fermi–Löwdin descriptors (FODs), and the occupied canonical orbitals or the density matrix. In this work, we provide a detailed workflow for the implementation of the FLOSIC method for removal of self-interaction error in DFT calculations in an orbital-by-orbital basis that takes advantage of the unitary invariant nature of the FLOSIC method. In this way, it is possible to cast the self-consistent energy minimization at fixed FODs in the same manner than standard Kohn–Sham with one additional term in the Kohn–Sham Hamiltonian that introduces the PZ self-interaction correction. Each energy minimization iteration is divided in two substeps, one for the density matrix and one for the FODs. Expressions for the effective Kohn–Sham matrix and FOD gradients are provided such that its implementation is suitable for most electronic structure codes. Here, we analyze the convergence characteristics of the algorithm and present applications for the evaluation of NMR shielding constants and real-time time-dependent DFT simulations based on the Liouville–von Neumann equation to calculate excitation energies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Piecewise interaction picture density matrix quantum Monte Carlo

The density matrix quantum Monte Carlo (DMQMC) set of methods stochastically samples the exact N-body density matrix for interacting electrons at finite temperature. We introduce a simple modification to the interaction picture DMQMC (IP-DMQMC) method that overcomes the limitation of only sampling one inverse temperature point at a time, instead allowing for the sampling of a temperature range within a single calculation, thereby reducing the computational cost. At the target inverse temperature, instead of ending the simulation, we incorporate a change of picture away from the interaction picture. The resulting equations of motion have piecewise functions and use the interaction picture in the first phase of a simulation, followed by the application of the Bloch equation once the target inverse temperature is reached. We find that the performance of this method is similar to or better than the DMQMC and IP-DMQMC algorithms in a variety of molecular test systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗