The Extension of the Monte Carlo Method for Neutron Transfer Problems Calculating to the Problems of Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

There are several methods of numerical solution of eigenvalue problems by the Monte Carlo method, which are used in the calculation of nuclear reactors. This paper is devoted to the investigation of the possibility of using such methods for solving the stationary Schrodinger equation. The latter equation can easily be transformed into the form of an integral equation of the first kind, very similar to those integral equations that arise in problems of nuclear power. The Monte Carlo method for this form of the stationary Schrodinger equation looks very attractive, since it naturally parallels and is very convenient for calculations on multiprocessor systems. In addition, in this case it is necessary to operate with functions defined on a large-dimensional space. This is also natural for the Monte Carlo method. It is described how the methods long used for the calculation of nuclear reactors are transformed for this case. The main problem is that the wave function of fermions changes its sign under a permutation of identical particles, and can not be nonnegative. The proposed approach is significantly different from the known methods of applying the Monte Carlo method to quantum mechanical problems. In this paper, several examples of the successful application of the proposed new method are given.