Abstract
We present a time-dependent method for determining several approximate excited-state energies and wave functions using a vectorial approach to multidimensional supersymmetric quantum mechanics. First, a vectorial approach is used to generate the tensor sector two Hamiltonian, which is isospectral with the original scalar sector one Hamiltonian above the ground state of the sector one Hamiltonian. We construct a time-dependent Hamiltonian interpolating between the scalar sector one Hamiltonian and the tensor sector two Hamiltonian. Then, we can adiabatically switch from the ground state of the sector one Hamiltonian to the ground state of the sector two Hamiltonian by solving the time-dependent Schrdinger equation. In addition, by employing an initial wave packet orthogonal to that leading to the ground state of sector two, we also obtain the first-excited state of sector two. Construction of the orthogonal sector one states is trivial due to the tensor nature of sector two. The ground and first-excited states of the sector two Hamiltonian can be used with the charge operator to obtain the first two excited state wave functions of the sector one Hamiltonian. Excellent computational results are obtained for two-dimensional nonseparable degenerate and nondegenerate systems. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.