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Title: Time dependent Schroedinger equation on arbitrary structured grids: Application to photoionization

Journal Article · · Journal of Computational Physics
 [1]
  1. Icarus Research, Inc., Bethesda, MD 20824 (United States)

A systematic technique for conservatively discretizing the time dependent Schroedinger equation on an arbitrary structured grid is given. Spatial differencing is carried out by finite volumes, and temporal differencing is carried out semi-implicitly. It is shown that the resulting algorithm conserves probability to within a round-off error regardless of the grid geometry. The algorithm is efficient for both serial and parallel computation. The conservative nature of the algorithm, and its phase accuracy, are demonstrated for a bound state, and for a free state in an electromagnetic field. The ionization rate for a hydrogen atom in a strong electromagnetic field is computed, and compared with the rate from tunneling theory. The regime of validity of tunneling theory is clarified.

OSTI ID:
22192331
Journal Information:
Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 231, Issue 19; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English