Path integrals and the WKB approximation

Barry R. Holstein, Arthur R. Swift

American Journal of Physics · 1982 · 35 citations · 0 references

Concepts

Abstract

The WKB approximation is demonstrated to be formally identical to the semiclassical limit of the Feynman path integral propagator. In the limit that the path integral propagator is dominated by the classical particle trajectory, it is identical to the propagator calculated directly from WKB wave functions in the stationary phase approximation.