Density matrix renormalization group approach for many-body open quantum systems.

The density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) approach is extended to complex-symmetric density matrices characteristic of many-body open quantum systems. Within the continuum shell model, we investigate the interplay between many-body configuration interaction and coupling to open channels in case of the unbound nucleus (7)He. It is shown that the extended DMRG procedure provides a highly accurate treatment of the coupling to the nonresonant scattering continuum.