TDMET · Time-resolving electron dynamics in molecules by time-dependent many-electron theory

The interaction of atoms and molecules with new light sources such as attosecond and free-electron lasers is under strong current experimental investigation. Within the next few years the interest will shift from relatively simple systems with a few atoms and electrons to bigger systems with many atoms and may electrons. The aims will be to study time-resolved dynamics and chemical reactions on the natural timescales for these processes. To fulfill this ambitious goal, there will be a strong need for the development of new theory to guide the experiments and to analyze and understand the results. Currently there is no satisfactory theory in this research area that can treat more than the nonperturbative response of a single electron in a model potential. It is the purpose of the present project to develop such theory.