Düsseldorf 2007 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 6: Interaction with strong laser pulses I

A 6.1: Invited Talk

Monday, March 19, 2007, 16:30–17:00, 5M

Quantum mechanics without wavefunction - a density functional perspective on electron dynamics — •Stephan Kümmel — Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth

The non-linear and non-perturbative electron dynamics which can be triggered in atoms and molecules, e.g., by the fields of intense lasers, is hard to describe quantum-mechanically due to the enormous computational effort that is associated with solving the time-dependent many-particle Schrödinger equation. Time-dependent density functional theory, i.e., the alternative formulation of quantum mechanics that does not need the many-particle wavefunction, offers a computationally inexpensive and therefore attractive alternative. Since the theory is formulated in terms of simple, intuitively accessible quantities - the particle density and a local effective potential - it frequently allows to gain a direct understanding of observed physical processes. One example for this is the calculation and understanding of the response properties of extended molecular systems. The ultimate strength of time-dependent density functional theory, however, lies in the possibility to access non-perturbative dynamics. This will be demonstrated for the strong-field double ionization of the Helium atom.