In time-dependent density-functional theory, an important quantity is the exchange-correlation kernel whose knowledge allows for the calculations of the excitation spectrum of electronic systems. In most applications, the exchange-correlation kernel is approximated by the adiabatic local-density approximation, ignoring the frequency dependence and nonlocality. To gain insight into the nature of the exact exchange-correlation kernel, we have considered a two-dimensional one-band Hubbard model. The calculated exact exchange-correlation kernel reveals a number of striking features. It has a weak energy dependence up to the main excitation energy. On the other hand, the exact kernel shows a strong energy dependence in energy regions, where there are many-body excitations that are not contained in the local-density approximation, even though these excitations have small weight. It is found that a static approximation can well reproduce the main excitation peaks, but the satellite structures arising from many-body interaction are unlikely to be accounted for with a static approximation.
A diagrammatic expansion for the dynamic exchange-correlation kernel
fxc of time-dependent density functional theory is formulated. It is shown that
fxc has no singularities at Kohn-Sham transition energies in every order of the perturbation theory. However, it may diverge with the system size in extended systems. This signifies that any approximate perturbative substitute for
fxc requires a consistent perturbative treatment of the response function to avoid uncontrollable errors in the many-body corrections to excitations energies.
For two prototype systems, we calculate the exact exchange-correlation kernels ${f}_{\mathrm{xc}}(x,{x}^{\ensuremath{'}},\ensuremath{\omega})$ of time-dependent density functional theory.
fxc, the key quantity for optical absorption spectra of electronic systems, is normally subject to uncontrolled approximation. We find that, up to the first excitation energy, the exact
fxc has weak frequency dependence and a simple, though nonlocal, spatial form. For higher excitations, the spatial behavior and frequency dependence become more complex. The accuracy of the underlying exchange-correlation potential is of crucial importance.
A diagrammatic formalism for taking functional derivatives from the ab initio optimized effective potential, many-body perturbation theory (OEP-MBPT), exchange-correlation potentials is developed. Using this technique the frequency-independent (adiabatic approximation) kernel, corresponding to the second-order approximation OEP-MBPT(2) exchange-correlation potential is derived. The structure of the kernel is discussed and some initial numerical tests presented. The complexity of the computational procedure raises the question of what is warranted for a rigorous, ab initio approach that retains the one-particle structure of density functional theory compared to wave function approaches for excited states.
The interacting and the Kohn-Sham static density-density response functions for different one-dimensional two-electron singlet systems are reconstructed numerically. From their inverse we obtain the exact static exchange-correlation kernel. This quantity represents the adiabatically exact approximation of the frequency-dependent exchange-correlation kernel that is crucial for time-dependent linear density-response theory. We investigate its performance for nonlocal perturbations and analyze its sum rule properties. We also compute the adiabatically exact transition energies that follow from the static kernel within linear-response theory.
The exact exchange-correlation (xc) kernel ${f}_{\text{xc}}(x,{x}^{\ensuremath{'}},\ensuremath{\omega})$ of linear response time-dependent density functional theory is computed over a wide range of frequencies for three canonical one-dimensional finite systems. Methods used to ensure the numerical robustness of
fxc are set out. The frequency dependence of
fxc is found to be largely due to its analytic structure, i.e., its singularities at certain frequencies, which are required in order to capture particular transitions, including those of double excitation character. However, within the frequency range of the first few interacting excitations,
fxc is approximately $\ensuremath{\omega}$ independent, meaning the exact adiabatic approximation ${f}_{\text{xc}}(\ensuremath{\omega}=0)$ remedies the failings of the local density approximation and random phase approximation for these lowest transitions. The key differences between the exact
fxc and its common approximations are analyzed, and cannot be eliminated by exploiting the limited gauge freedom in
fxc. The optical spectrum benefits from using as accurate as possible an
fxc and ground-state xc potential, while maintaining exact compatibility between the two is of less importance.