An investigation into possible quantum chaos in the H 2 molecule under intense laser fields via Ehrenfest phase space (EPS) trajectories

• Published in: Journal of molecular modeling Vol. 24; no. 7; p. 169
• Main Authors: Sadhukhan, Mainak, Deb, B M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-07-2018
• Subjects: Intense laser fields; Density-functional theory; H2 molecule; Atomic and molecular physics; Quantum chaos; Strong-field excitation (quantum optics)
• ISSN: 0948-5023
• DOI: 10.1007/s00894-018-3698-4

By employing the Ehrenfest "phase space" trajectory method for studying quantum chaos, developed in our laboratory, the present study reveals that the H
molecule under intense laser fields of three different intensities, I = 1 × 10
 W/cm
, 5 × 10
 W/cm
, and 1 × 10
 W/cm
, does not show quantum chaos. A similar conclusion is also reached through the Loschmidt echo (also called quantum fidelity) calculations reported here for the first time for a real molecule under intense laser fields. Thus, a long-standing conjecture about the possible existence of quantum chaos in atoms and molecules under intense laser fields has finally been tested and not found to be valid in the present case.