Review of Feynman’s Path Integral in Quantum Statistics:from the Molecular Schrödinger Equation to Kleinert’s Variational Perturbation Theory

Feynman’s path integral reformulates the quantum Schrödinger differential equation to be an integral equation.It has been being widely used to compute internuclear quantum-statistical effects on many-body molecular systems.In this Review,the molecular Schrödinger equation will first be introduced,together with the BornOppenheimer approximation that decouples electronic and internuclear motions.Some effective semiclassical potentials,e.g.,centroid potential,which are all formulated in terms of Feynman’s path integral,will be discussed and compared.These semiclassical potentials can be used to directly calculate the quantum canonical partition function without individual Schrödinger’s energy eigenvalues.As a result,path integrations are conventionally performed with Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics sampling techniques.To complement these techniques,we will examine how Kleinert’s variational perturbation(KP)theory can provide a complete theoretical foundation for developing non-sampling/non-stochastic methods to systematically calculate centroid potential.To enable the powerful KP theory to be practical for many-body molecular systems,we have proposed a new path-integral method:automated integrationfree path-integral(AIF-PI)method.Due to the integration-free and computationally inexpensive characteristics of our AIF-PI method,we have used it to perform ab initio path-integral calculations of kinetic isotope effects on proton-transfer and RNA-related phosphoryl-transfer chemical reactions.The computational procedure of using our AIF-PI method,along with the features of our new centroid path-integral theory at the minimum of the absolute-zero energy(AMAZE),are also highlighted in this review.

相空间中Green函数的生成泛函和Feynman规则

从相空间中Ｇｒｅｅｎ函数的生成泛函出发，对正则动量引入外源，利用最陡下降法，证明了在树图近似下，正规顶角的生成泛函等于正则作用量。勿需作出对正则动量的泛函积分，就可导出树图近似下的Ｆｅｙｎｍａｎ规则，给出了对ψ４场论中的初步应用。

Second-order interference of two independent and tunable single-mode continuous-wave lasers

The second-order temporal interference of two independent single-mode continuous-wave lasers is discussed by em- ploying two-photon interference in Feynman＇s path integral theory. It is concluded that whether the second-order temporal interference pattern can or cannot be retrieved via two-photon coincidence counting rate is dependent on the resolution time of the detection system and the frequency difference between these two lasers. Two identical and tunable single-mode continuous-wave diode lasers are employed to verify the predictions. These studies are helpful to understand the physics of two-photon interference with photons of different spectra.

Second-order temporal interference of two independent light beams at an asymmetrical beam splitter

The second-order temporal interference of classical and nonclassical light at an asymmetrical beam splitter is discussed based on two-photon interference in Feynman＇s path integral theory. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern is determined by the properties of the superposed light beams, the ratio between the intensities of these two light beams, and the reflectivity of the asymmetrical beam splitter. Some requirements about the asymmetrical beam splitter have to be satisfied in order to ensure that the visibility of the second-order interference pattern of nonclassical light beams exceeds the classical limit. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern of photons emitted by two independent single-photon sources is independent of the ratio between the intensities. These conclusions are important for the researches and applications in quantum optics and quantum information when an asymmetrical beam splitter is employed.

Exact Quasi-Classical Asymptotic beyond Maslov Canonical Operator and Quantum Jumps Nature

Exact quasi-classical asymptotic beyond WKB-theory and beyond Maslov canonical operator to the Colombeau solutions of the n-dimensional Schrodinger equation is presented. Quantum jumps nature is considered successfully. We pointed out that an explanation of quantum jumps can be found to result from Colombeau solutions of the Schrodinger equation alone without additional postulates.

Second-order interference of two independent photons with different spectra

The second-order interference of two independent photons with different spectra in a Shih-Alley/Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer is studied in Feynman's path integral theory. There is a second-order interference pattern for photons with different spectra if the photons are indistinguishable for the employed detection system. The conditions to observe the second-order temporal beating with photons of different spectra are analyzed. The influence of the response time of the detection system on the observed second-order interference pattern is also discussed. It is a direct result of that measurement in quantum mechanics is dependent on the employed measuring apparatus. The results are helpful to understand the physics of two-photon interference in different schemes.

RLC介观电路的量子化研究

通过正则变换,应用费恩曼路径积分方法,得出了RLC介观电路的严格波函数,并进一步讨论了电路中电荷和广义电流的量子涨落.