Simplified calculation of the stability matrix for semiclassical propagation

We present a simple method of calculation of the stability (monodromy) matrix that enters the widely used semiclassical propagator of Herman and Kluk and almost all other semiclassical propagators. The method is based on the unitarity of classical propagation and does not involve any approximations. The number of auxiliary differential equations per trajectory scales linearly rather than quadratically with the system size. Just the first derivatives of the potential surface are needed. The method is illustrated on the collinear H-3 system. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)01045-X].