Many-Electron, Many-Photon Theory of Atoms in Strong Fields

Abstract

This article treats the many-electron, many-photon (MEMP) problem for weak or strong fields under the assumption of monochromaticity and adiabaticity. We emphasize the efficient and reliable solution of a non Hermitian, complex eigenvalue Schrodinger equation which yields the energy width (ionization rate) and shift of an atomic or molecular ground or excited state due to the perturbation of an ac- or a dc-field. Thus far, applications have been made on the negative ions H− and Li−, whose zeroth order structures are different, for ac-fields up to 1011 W/cm2, with and without a dc-field (ref.14). A number of results have been obtained and analyzed in terms of electronic structure and final state effects. For some of them, comparison is possible with recent experiments as well as with previous less sophisticated theories.