Abstract

The interaction of an atom with a very intense external electromagnetic field is one of considerable current interest, particularly when the magnitude of the external applied fields are of the order of, or stronger than the internal atomic field experienced by the atomic electrons. In that case perturbation treatments of the interaction should be very difficult, if not incorrect. One reaches the point where one has to decide between which picture , among many, would be used for the interaction. Instead of using a multiphoton picture for the interaction, I chose to investigate a description of the interaction utilizing classical mechanics.

© 1986 Optical Society of America