Quantum Dynamics in a Double-Well Potential Using Quasiclassical Methods

The quartic double-well potential has been used to model a variety of physical systems due to its simple form that permits straightforward realization and analysis. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of non-equilibrium quantum states in one-dimensional double wells using nonstandard “quasiclassical” techniques that treat a wave packet’s average position and standard deviation on equal footing in an effective potential landscape while incorporating Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. In this talk, we will outline the theory of the quasiclassical method, apply this method to find oscillation frequencies of states hosted in the double well, compare these results to those computed using the standard Schrödinger equation, and discuss the relative advantages or drawbacks of these two techniques.