CLASSICAL PATH METHOD IN INELASTIC AND REACTIVE SCATTERING

The semiclassical (classical path) method has over the years probably been the most commonly used approximate method for describing many mol ecular dynamical processes in inelastic, non-adiabatic and recently al so in reactive scattering. Here an overview of the development of the theory is given. Its connection to various other approximate dynamic t heories such as the eikonal, time-dependent self-consistent field, Gau ssian wave packet and the Feynmann path theory is discussed. Various n umerical and technical schemes for solving the mixed quantum-classical equations through algebraic, state and grid expansion methods are als o given.