Relativistic theory of atom-laser interactions at very high laser intensities

Abstract

The high-frequency approximation of Kristic and Mittleman is considered in detail as a basis for the relativistic theory of atom-laser interactions. The properties of the 3D potentials are discussed. Within a one-dimensional model similar to that employed by Kylstra, Ermolaev, and Joachain in ab initio calculations on the time-dependent Dirac equation, the electron mass-shift due to dressing by a superstrong laser field is investigated. In the full domain of the laser parameters, the frequency ω and the peak field strength ℰ0, the 1D bound states exhibit remarkable features. The numerical calculations show the existence of a very wide intermediate range of the field strengths where, in the zeroth order of the high-frequency approximation, the binding is stabilized by the field.