Wavepacket quantum dynamics

The article reviews the use of wavepackets in molecular quantum dynamics. The basic theory concerned with their use in both reactive molecular scattering and photodissociation dynamics is outlined. The great advantage of using wavepackets is that the full S matrix for the scattering problem need not be evaluated, and the numerical effort can be concentrated on those initial molecular quantum states which are of interest. Wavepackets may be used within a time-dependent or a time-independent framework, both are discussed and compared. Some examples of calculations from both reactive scattering and photodissociation theory are given.