Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, Cambridge, England, September 1979

The second edition of an established graduate text, this book complements the material for a typical advanced graduate course in quantum mechanics by showing how the underlying classical structure is reflected in quantum mechanical interference and tunnelling phenomena, and in the energy and angular momentum distributions of quantum mechanical states in the moderate to large (10-100) quantum number regime. Applications include accurate quantization techniques for a variety of tunnelling and curve-crossing problems and of non-separable bound systems; direct inversion of molecular scattering and spectroscopic data; wavepacket propagation techniques; and the prediction and interpretation of elastic, inelastic and chemically reactive scattering. The main text concentrates less on the mathematical foundations than on the global influence of the classical phase space structures on the quantum mechanical observables. Further mathematical detail is contained in the appendices and worked problem sets are included as an aid to the student.

The second edition of an established graduate text, this book complements the material for a typical advanced graduate course in quantum mechanics by showing how the underlying classical structure is reflected in quantum mechanical interference and tunnelling phenomena, and in the energy and angular momentum distributions of quantum mechanical states in the moderate to large (10-100) quantum number regime. Applications include accurate quantization techniques for a variety of tunnelling and curve-crossing problems and of non-separable bound systems; direct inversion of molecular scattering and spectroscopic data; wavepacket propagation techniques; and the prediction and interpretation of elastic, inelastic and chemically reactive scattering. The main text concentrates less on the mathematical foundations than on the global influence of the classical phase space structures on the quantum mechanical observables. Further mathematical detail is contained in the appendices and worked problem sets are included as an aid to the student.

A graduate-level text that examines the semiclassical approach to quantum mechanics Physical systems have been traditionally described in terms of either classical or quantum mechanics. But in recent years, semiclassical methods have developed rapidly, providing deep physical insight and computational tools for quantum dynamics and spectroscopy. In this book, Eric Heller introduces and develops this subject, demonstrating its power with many examples. In the first half of the book, Heller covers relevant aspects of classical mechanics, building from them the semiclassical way through the semiclassical limit of the Feynman path integral. The second half of the book applies this approach to various kinds of spectroscopy, such as molecular spectroscopy and electron imaging and quantum dynamical systems with an emphasis on tunneling. Adopting a distinctly time-dependent viewpoint, Heller argues for semiclassical theories from experimental and theoretical vantage points valuable to research in physics and chemistry. Featuring more than two hundred figures, the book provides a geometric, phase-space, and coordinate-space pathway to greater understanding. Filled with practical examples and applications, The Semiclassical Way to Dynamics and Spectroscopy is a comprehensive presentation of the tools necessary to successfully delve into this unique area of quantum mechanics. A comprehensive approach for using classical mechanics to do quantum mechanics More than two hundred figures to assist intuition Emphasis on semiclassical Green function and wave packet perspective, as well as tunneling and spectroscopy Chapters include quantum mechanics of classically chaotic systems, quantum scarring, and other modern dynamical topics