Local Density Theory of Polarizability

During the past decade the theoretical physics community has learned how to evaluate accurately polarizabilities and susceptibilities for many-electron systems such as atoms, solids, and liquids. The most accurate numerical technique employs a method often called the Time-Dependent Local Density Approximation, which is abbreviated TDLDA. The present volume is a review of recent research on the theory of po­ larizabilities and susceptibilities. Both authors have been doing these cal­ culations. However, this review surveys the entire field, summarizing the research of many contributors. The application of an external field, either ac or de, will induce a dipole moment which can be calculated and compared with experiment. For mod­ erately strong fields, both linear and nonlinear processes contribute to the moment. We cover topics such as polarizability, hyperpolarizability, pho­ toionization, phonons, and piezoelectricity. Density functional theory in the Local Density Approximation (LDA) has been shown to be a very accurate method for calculating ground state prop­ erties of electronic system. For static external fields, the induced moments are properties of the ground state. Then the calculation of the polarizability · is very accurate. For ac fields, the moment is not part of the ground state. However, the TDLDA methods are still very accurate.