Using semiclassical surface hopping for coupled partial wave calculations on systems with non-spherically symmetric potentials

Graphical abstract: It is demonstrated that a semiclassical surface hopping method offers as simple and efficient technique for scattering calculations using non-spherically symmetric potentials. - Abstract: It is shown that a semiclassical surface hopping (SH) approach provides a simple and efficient method for scattering calculations with non-spherically symmetric potentials. The calculations are performed by expanding the wave function in an angular momentum state basis. Since the potential is not spherically symmetric, the different angular states are coupled. The semiclassical SH method, which is typically used for problems with coupled electronic states, can, in principle, be employed for any coupled state problem. The particular SH method employed is known to provide highly accurate results for coupled electronic state problems. The method is tested on model two angular state problems using potential surfaces and couplings arising from a non-spherically symmetric scattering problem. The results for these model problems are in excellent agreement with exact quantum calculations. Full calculations, which are converged with regard to the number of angular basis states, are also performed for the non-spherically symmetric problem. It is shown that an approximation to the surface hopping amplitudes that simplifies the numerical implementation of the method provides results in excellent agreement with the full surface hopping calculation.