Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Rayleigh Scattering of a Laser Beam from a Massive Relativistic Two-Level Atom

James W. Meyer

Published Apr 1, 1971• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

$A$ relativistic two-level model of a massive atom in the presence of an external plane-wave laser beam is solved. Using the resulting wave functions, the cross sections for the scattering of a photon of the laser frequency or one of its harmonics is calculated. Many interesting nonlinear effects are found, the most striking being the rapid change of the resonance frequency in the cross section for harmonic production as the intensity of the laser is increased. Both approximate and exact numerical results are presented.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.3.1431

Related papers

Continuum Rayleigh scattering in an intense laser beam

M. Jacon

The problem of resonance Rayleigh scattering by an atom in an intense laser beam, whose bare spectrum consists of one discrete fundamental state and an excited continuum of states, is studied with the use of the density-matrix formalism. Evolution equations for the density-matrix elements are solved, leading to the determination of the populations of the atom in the discrete state $|g〉$ in the presence of $n$ laser photons, and to the calculation of the dipole-moment correlation function. The importance of cascade effects is discussed. The emitted spectrum is calculated and its dependence on the intensity of the laser beam and on the frequency of the incident photons is studied.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1982•3 citations

Rayleigh Scattering of a Laser Beam for a Massive Relativistic Two-Level Atom

James W. Meyer

Physical Review A•Aug 1, 1971•1 citation

Electron-atom scattering in a resonant laser field

K. Unnikrishnan

Dressed states of an atom in a classical laser field of frequency close to an atomic transition frequency are obtained, which are a considerable improvement over the usual two-level rotating-wave approximation. These wave functions are used in a calculation of the cross section for elastic electron-atom scattering in a laser field. Numerical calculations for electron-hydrogen scattering demonstrate that scattering involving absorption or emission of photons can be strongly influenced by coupling to the nonresonant states, regardless of the field strength. Inclusion of the counter-rotating terms in the calculation is shown to be essential for extending the applicability of the theory to scattering in nonresonant fields, where a first-order perturbation-theoretic treatment of the atom-field interaction would be expected to be quite justified.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1988•15 citations

Electron scattering from atoms in the presence of a laser field. III

Marvin H. Mittleman

The development of the theory of the effect of a laser on electron-atom scattering is continued by the derivation of explicit relations between the observed electron-atom scattering cross sections in the presence of a laser and exact electron-atom scattering cross sections with no laser present. No approximation concerning the scattering interaction is made. The only approximations concerning the laser are that (1) the laser-atom interaction energy is small compared to atomic energies, (2) the Rabi frequency times the collision time is small, and (3) the laser intensity in appropriate units is small.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1977•21 citations

Scattering of Intense Light by a Two-Level System

Rodney J. Gush, Herbert P. Gush

A general expression is found for the Green's function of a two-level system interacting with a classical monochromatic field of arbitrary frequency and intensity. The Green's function is first used to calculate the transition probability from the lower to the upper state as a function of the frequency and intensity of the field and a comparison of the results is made with experiment. It is then used to study the problem of scattering. It is found that the spectrum of the scattered radiation consists of a line at the frequency of the field (Rayleigh line) and two satellites symmetrically displaced from the Rayleigh line by an amount depending both on the intensity and frequency of the field. In addition there are emissions at three, five, etc., times the frequency of the field, and accompanying satellites. The cross sections for the production of the Rayleigh line and its satellites, and for the third-harmonic line and its satellites have been calculated for a range of values of the frequency and intensity of the incident field.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1972•46 citations

Electron scattering from atoms in the presence of a laser field. II

Marvin H. Mittleman

In the first paper of this series a formal theory of atomic scattering of electrons in the presence of an intense electromagnetic field was given. Cross sections, near the forward direction, between atomic states (modified by the laser) were obtained. However, it was assumed that the atom could not emit spontaneous radiation. In this paper the effect of spontaneous radiation is included, and it is shown that in most cases the measured cross section will be a weighted average of the two different cross sections starting from the two different initial states which are those atomic states resonantly linked by the laser. The Born approximation for the scattering is obtained, and it is shown that for the simplest description of the spontaneous radiation field the effect of the laser on the cross sections is simply to multiply them by a factor which depends upon the laser detuning.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1976•38 citations
AAA relativistic two-level model of a massive atom in the presence of an external plane-wave laser beam is solved. Using the resulting wave functions, the cross sections for the scattering of a photon of the laser frequency or one of its harmonics is calculated. Many interesting nonlinear effects are found, the most striking being the rapid change of the resonance frequency in the cross section for harmonic production as the intensity of the laser is increased. Both approximate and exact numerical results are presented.
The problem of resonance Rayleigh scattering by an atom in an intense laser beam, whose bare spectrum consists of one discrete fundamental state and an excited continuum of states, is studied with the use of the density-matrix formalism. Evolution equations for the density-matrix elements are solved, leading to the determination of the populations of the atom in the discrete state ∣g〉|g〉∣g〉 in the presence of nnn laser photons, and to the calculation of the dipole-moment correlation function. The importance of cascade effects is discussed. The emitted spectrum is calculated and its dependence on the intensity of the laser beam and on the frequency of the incident photons is studied.
Dressed states of an atom in a classical laser field of frequency close to an atomic transition frequency are obtained, which are a considerable improvement over the usual two-level rotating-wave approximation. These wave functions are used in a calculation of the cross section for elastic electron-atom scattering in a laser field. Numerical calculations for electron-hydrogen scattering demonstrate that scattering involving absorption or emission of photons can be strongly influenced by coupling to the nonresonant states, regardless of the field strength. Inclusion of the counter-rotating terms in the calculation is shown to be essential for extending the applicability of the theory to scattering in nonresonant fields, where a first-order perturbation-theoretic treatment of the atom-field interaction would be expected to be quite justified.
The development of the theory of the effect of a laser on electron-atom scattering is continued by the derivation of explicit relations between the observed electron-atom scattering cross sections in the presence of a laser and exact electron-atom scattering cross sections with no laser present. No approximation concerning the scattering interaction is made. The only approximations concerning the laser are that (1) the laser-atom interaction energy is small compared to atomic energies, (2) the Rabi frequency times the collision time is small, and (3) the laser intensity in appropriate units is small.
A general expression is found for the Green's function of a two-level system interacting with a classical monochromatic field of arbitrary frequency and intensity. The Green's function is first used to calculate the transition probability from the lower to the upper state as a function of the frequency and intensity of the field and a comparison of the results is made with experiment. It is then used to study the problem of scattering. It is found that the spectrum of the scattered radiation consists of a line at the frequency of the field (Rayleigh line) and two satellites symmetrically displaced from the Rayleigh line by an amount depending both on the intensity and frequency of the field. In addition there are emissions at three, five, etc., times the frequency of the field, and accompanying satellites. The cross sections for the production of the Rayleigh line and its satellites, and for the third-harmonic line and its satellites have been calculated for a range of values of the frequency and intensity of the incident field.
In the first paper of this series a formal theory of atomic scattering of electrons in the presence of an intense electromagnetic field was given. Cross sections, near the forward direction, between atomic states (modified by the laser) were obtained. However, it was assumed that the atom could not emit spontaneous radiation. In this paper the effect of spontaneous radiation is included, and it is shown that in most cases the measured cross section will be a weighted average of the two different cross sections starting from the two different initial states which are those atomic states resonantly linked by the laser. The Born approximation for the scattering is obtained, and it is shown that for the simplest description of the spontaneous radiation field the effect of the laser on the cross sections is simply to multiply them by a factor which depends upon the laser detuning.