Spectral signals from electronic dynamics in sodium clusters

We study the dynamics of the electron cloud in sodium clusters for small and large amplitude excitations in the time-dependent local-density approximation (TDLDA), without referring to linear approximations. In particular, we discuss the interpretation of strength function and power spectrum as obtained from dynamical calculations. We demonstrate the constructive and destructive interference contained in the Various spectral states. We search for a special signature of nonlinear couplings in the large amplitude regime, but do not fmd pronounced effects. (C) 1997 Academic Press.