On the time evolution of fermionic occupation numbers

Abstract

We derive an equation for the time evolution of the natural occupation numbers for fermionic systems with more than two electrons. The evolution of such numbers is connected with the symmetry-adapted generalized Pauli exclusion principle, as well as with the evolution of the natural orbitals and a set of many-body relative phases. We then relate the evolution of these phases to a geometrical and a dynamical term, attached to each one of the Slater determinants appearing in the configuration-interaction expansion of the wave function.