Brief review related to the foundations of time-dependent density functional theory

Abstract

The electron density $n(\rb,t)$, which is the central tool of time-dependent density functional theory, is presently considered to be derivable from a one-body time-dependent potential $V(\rb,t)$, via one-electron wave functions satisfying a time- dependent Schr\"{o}dinger equation. This is here related via a generalized equation of motion to a Dirac density matrix now involving $t$. Linear response theory is then surveyed, with a special emphasis on the question of causality with respect to the density dependence of the potential. Extraction of $V(\rb,t)$ for solvable models is also proposed.