Within the framework of ab initio time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), we propose a static approximation to the exchange-correlation kernel based on the jellium-with-gap model. This kernel accounts for electron-hole interactions, and it is able to address both strongly bound excitons and weak excitonic effects. TD-DFT absorption spectra of several bulk materials (both semiconductor and insulators) are reproduced in very good agreement with the experiments and with a low computational cost.

• Received 24 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.205143