Compacting the density matrix in quantum dynamics: Singular value decomposition of the surprisal and the dominant constraints for anharmonic systems

We introduce a practical method for compacting the time evolution of the quantum state of a closed physical system. The density matrix is specified as a function of a few time-independent observables where their coefficients are time-dependent. The key mathematical step is the vectorization of the surprisal, the logarithm of the density matrix, at each time point of interest. The time span used depends on the required spectral resolution. The entire course of the system evolution is represented as a matrix where each column is the vectorized surprisal at the given time point. Using the singular value decomposition (SVD) of this matrix, we generate realistic approximations for the time-independent observables and their respective time-dependent coefficients. This allows for a simplification of the algebraic procedure for determining the dominant constraints (the time-independent observables) in the sense of the maximal entropy approach. A non-stationary coherent initial state of a Morse oscillator is used to introduce the approach. We derive the analytical exact expression for the surprisal as a function of time, and this offers a benchmark for comparison with the accurate but approximate SVD results. We discuss two examples of a Morse potential of different anharmonicities, H-2 and I-2 molecules. We further demonstrate the approach for a two-coupled electronic state problem, the well-studied non-radiative decay of pyrazine from its bright state. Five constraints are found to be enough to capture the ultrafast electronic population exchange and to recover the dynamics of the wave packet in both electronic states. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.