  The density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) is employed to calculate
optical properties of the half-filled Hubbard model with nearest-neighbor
interactions. In order to model the optical excitations of oligoenes, a Peierls
dimerization is included whose strength for the single bonds may fluctuate.
Systems with up to 100 electrons are investigated, their wave functions are
analyzed, and relevant length-scales for the low-lying optical excitations are
identified. The presented approach provides a concise picture for the size
dependence of the optical absorption in oligoenes.
