Spectral density and sum rules for second-order response functions

Sum rules for response functions represent some of the few exact results in many-body physics, relating the dynamical response functions to equilibrium ground state properties. To date, however, sum rules have been examined primarily for linear response functions. In this work, the authors introduce a spectral density representation for second-order response functions, using it to systematically derive families of sum rules, including a nonlinear extension of the well-known $f$-sum rule. This work places important constraints on future nonlinear spectroscopic experiments.