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I know that there exist probability conserving explicit solvers for time-dependent Schrödinger's equation, for example, Visscher's one.

But when I tried to take into account spin and magnetic field (so that Hamiltonian matrix is no longer real-valued) in this scheme, it appeared, although remaining stable, to not conserve total probability. I had to make time steps several orders of magnitude smaller to have total probability remain somewhat constant, and even then it visibly changed after 100 time steps.

Here's what the basic algorithm looks like. Schrödinger equation $i\frac d{dt}\Psi=H\Psi$ is rewritten with $\Psi=R+iI$ as

$$\left\{\begin{align} \frac {dR}{dt}&=HI,\\ \frac {dI}{dt}&=-HR. \end{align}\right.\tag1$$

These equations are then discretized as

$$\left\{\begin{align} R\left(t+\frac12\Delta t\right)&=R\left(t-\frac12\Delta t\right)+\Delta tHI(t),\\ I\left(t+\frac12\Delta t\right)&=I\left(t-\frac12\Delta t\right)-\Delta tHR(t). \end{align}\right.\tag2$$

Probability density is defined as

$$P(x,t)=R(x,t)^2+I\left(x,t+\frac12\Delta t\right)I\left(x,t-\frac12\Delta t\right)\tag3$$

at integer $t/\Delta t$ and

$$P(x,t)=R\left(x,t+\frac12\Delta t\right)R\left(x,t-\frac12\Delta t\right)+I(x,t)^2\tag4$$

at half-integer $t/\Delta t$ and conserved provided that $H$ matrix (where Laplacian is supposed to be a finite-difference or something similar) is real-valued.

My change was to make $H$ complex to allow for Pauli matrix $\sigma_y$ and magnetic field term $\propto i\partial_y A(\vec r)$. Now, with $H=H_r+iH_i,$ equations $(1)$ look like

$$\left\{\begin{align} \frac {dR}{dt}&=H_rI+H_iR,\\ \frac {dI}{dt}&=H_iI-H_rR. \end{align}\right.\tag5$$

After this change probability density defined by $(3)$ and $(4)$ is no longer conserved. Apparently, Visscher's algorithm is not extensible to complex Hamiltonians, so I need to find another one.

So, are there any explicit probability conserving solvers suitable for Pauli equation?

NOTE

There appears to be many papers related to Dirac equation, but I would like to solve the Pauli equation itself, not just Pauli regime of Dirac equation (e.g. input large potentials which would lead to Klein paradox in Dirac equation but wouldn't in Pauli equation).

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  • $\begingroup$ Can you add more mathematical detail about this? $\endgroup$ Dec 10, 2016 at 17:54
  • $\begingroup$ @NawafBou-Rabee what exactly details do you mean? Description of the algorithm? Presentation of the Pauli equation? $\endgroup$
    – Ruslan
    Dec 10, 2016 at 17:55
  • $\begingroup$ Yes: enough detail to describe the algorithm you used. $\endgroup$ Dec 10, 2016 at 17:56
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    $\begingroup$ @NawafBou-Rabee added. $\endgroup$
    – Ruslan
    Dec 10, 2016 at 18:33

1 Answer 1

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A well-balanced and asymptotic-preserving scheme for the one-dimensional linear Dirac equation (2014) treats the effect of spin in a probability conserving way, both in the relativistic (Dirac) and non relativistic (Pauli) regime.

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    $\begingroup$ Although it does address the question, it's not quite what I wanted. For extreme conditions like high potentials this scheme will still give Dirac-like behavior, not that which Pauli equation would give. I've edited the question to include this. $\endgroup$
    – Ruslan
    Jun 23, 2014 at 19:22

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