Testing the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree–Fock method

We test the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree–Fock method as a new approach towards the numerical calculation of dynamical processes in multi-electron systems using the harmonic quantum dot and one-dimensional helium in strong laser pulses as models. We find rapid convergence for quantities such as ground-state population, correlation coefficient and single ionization towards the exact results. The method converges, where the time-dependent Hartree–Fock method fails qualitatively.