An optimized harmonic reference system for the evaluation of discretized path integrals

Abstract

A harmonic reference system for Monte Carlo evaluation of discretized path integrals is developed. Various equilibrium averages are calculated for a one-dimensional quartic oscillator, and compared to converged basis set results; it is shown that use of the reference system substantially decreases the number of discretized points (relative to the free particle reference system) necessary to compute accurate quantum mechanical expectation values. © 1984 American Institute of Physics.