A recently introduced variational wave packet method to integrate the
time-dependent Liouville-von Neumann equation for open quantum systems
is adapted here for one-and two-dimensional models describing the pho
todesorption of a neutral molecule from a dissipative metal surface. B
y comparison to benchmark results, we find that any quantities of inte
rest can be converged with any desired accuracy within the variational
wave packet scheme. The method is general, shows uniform convergence
properties and is computational efficient. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B
.V. All rights reserved.