Autocorrelation of electronic wave-functions: A new approach for describing the evolution of electronic structure in the course of dynamics

B. Hirshberg, R. B. Gerber, and A. I. Krylov
Mol. Phys. 116, 2512 – 2523 (2018)

We introduce a new approach for analyzing changes in electronic structure in the course of ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. The analysis is based on the time autocorrelation function of the many-body electronic wave-function. The approach facilitates the interpretation of dynamical events that may not be easily revealed by consideration of nuclear configurations alone. We apply the method to several illustrative examples: The shared proton vibration in the F-(H2O) complex, representing changes in strength of non-covalent interactions; proton transfer in the water dimer cation, as an example for chemical reactions in weakly-bound systems; and the intramolecular proton transfer in malonaldehyde. In all cases, we observe distinct features in the time autocorrelation function when chemical changes occur. The autocorrelation function serves as an effective reaction coordinate, incorporating of all degrees of freedom, including electronic ones. The method is also sensitive to changes in the electronic wave-function not accompanied by significant nuclear motions. We also briefly discuss future application of the method to the calculation of observables related to time-dependent photoelectron spectroscopy.

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