Differential Shannon Entropies Characterizing Electron-Nuclear Dynamics and Correlation: Momentum-Space Versus Coordinate-Space Wave Packet Motion

Entropy (Basel). 2023 Jun 23;25(7):970. doi: 10.3390/e25070970.

Abstract

We calculate differential Shannon entropies derived from time-dependent coordinate-space and momentum-space probability densities. This is performed for a prototype system of a coupled electron-nuclear motion. Two situations are considered, where one is a Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic dynamics, and the other is a diabatic motion involving strong non-adiabatic transitions. The information about coordinate- and momentum-space dynamics derived from the total and single-particle entropies is discussed and interpreted with the help of analytical models. From the entropies, we derive mutual information, which is a measure for the electron-nuclear correlation. In the adiabatic case, it is found that such correlations are manifested differently in coordinate- and momentum space. For the diabatic dynamics, we show that it is possible to decompose the entropies into state-specific contributions.

Keywords: correlation; differential Shannon entropy; electron–nuclear dynamics.

Grants and funding

This publication was supported by the Open Access Publication Fund of the University of Würzburg.