Abstract. We study the linear and nonlinear electron dynamics of a cluster using time-dependent density functional theory. Exchange-correlation (xc) effects are treated in the adiabatic local density approximation with and without self-interaction correction (SIC). The latter is implemented within the time-dependent optimized effective potential method, leading to a self-interaction-free xc potential which is orbital independent. The method is applied to compare the electronic response of the cluster, calculated with and without SIC, in different dynamical regimes. We focus on the dipole response in the weakly excited regime, and on multiphoton ionization induced by strong femtosecond laser pulses. It is found that including SIC produces minor differences in the dipole power spectra and leaves the ionization mechanism essentially unchanged.

Print publication: Issue 9 (14 May 1998)
Received 5 February 1998