Time-Step Targeting Time-Dependent and Dynamical Density Matrix Renormalization Group Algorithms with ab Initio Hamiltonians.

We study the dynamical density matrix renormalization group (DDMRG) and time-dependent density matrix renormalization group (td-DMRG) algorithms in the ab initio context to compute dynamical correlation functions of correlated systems. We analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the two methods in small model problems and propose two simple improved formulations, DDMRG and td-DMRG, that give increased accuracy at the same bond dimension at a nominal increase in cost. We apply DDMRG to obtain the oxygen core-excitation energy in the water molecule in a quadruple-zeta quality basis, which allows us to estimate the remaining correlation error in existing coupled cluster results. Further, we use DDMRG to compute the local density of states and gaps and td-DMRG to compute the complex polarization function, in linear hydrogen chains with up to 50 H atoms, to study metallicity and delocalization as a function of bond length.