  The time-dependent local-density approximation (TDLDA) is applied to the
optical response of conjugated carbon molecules in the energy range of 0-30 eV,
with calculations given for carbon chains, polyenes, retinal, benzene and C_60.
The major feature of the spectra, the collective pi-pi* transition, is seen at
energies ranging from below 2 to 7 eV, and is reproduced by the theory to a few
tenths of an eV with a good account of systematic trends. However, there is
some indication that TDLDA predicts too much fragmentation of the strength
function in large molecules. Transition strengths are reproduced with a typical
accuracy of 20%. The theory also predicts a broad absorption peak in the range
15-25 eV, and this feature agrees with experiment in the one case where
quantitative data is available (benzene).
