Time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a linear chain of atoms in the presence of a short and intense laser pulse

We solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation numerically in the case of a linear chain of atoms irradiated by a short (40 fs) Ti - Sa laser pulse whose intensity ranges from to . The electrostatic potential is chosen so as to reproduce, after diagonalization, the corresponding one-dimensional band structure of a `free-electron' metal. The case of aluminium is taken as an example. Ionization rates and harmonic spectra are calculated and discussed.