Feynman's Path-Integral Approach for Intense-Laser-Atom Interactions

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 292; no. 5518; pp. 902 - 905
• Main Authors: Salières, P., Carré, B., Le Déroff, L., Grasbon, F., Paulus, G. G., Walther, H., Kopold, R., Becker, W., Milošević, D. B., Sanpera, A., Lewenstein, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 04.05.2001; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; Atoms; Atoms & subatomic particles; Calculations and mathematical techniques in atomic and molecular physics (excluding electron correlation calculations); Electronic structure of atoms, molecules and their ions: theory; Electrons; Emission spectra; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency conversion ; harmonic generation, including high-order harmonic generation; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Harmonic generation, frequency conversion; Ionization; Laser; Laser spectroscopy; Lasers; Mathematical research; Mechanics (Physics); Multiphoton ionization and excitation to highly excited states (e.g., rydberg states); Multiphoton ionization and excitation to highly excited states (eg, Rydberg states); Nonlinear optics; Optics; Orbits; Orbits (Astrophysics); Overtone series; Particle physics; Path-integral methods; Phase matching; Photon interactions with atoms; Photons; Physics; Probability; Quantum Mechanics; Quantum theory; Statistics; Trajectories; France; Germany; Feynman path integral; Laser atom interaction; Strong fields; Theoretical study; Above threshold ionization; Optical harmonic generation; Radiation matter interactions; Laser beams; Nonlinear optics; Higher harmonic
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.108836

Atoms interacting with intense laser fields can emit electrons and photons of very high energies. An intuitive and quantitative explanation of these highly nonlinear processes can be found in terms of a generalization of classical Newtonian particle trajectories, the so-called quantum orbits. Very few quantum orbits are necessary to reproduce the experimental results. These orbits are clearly identified, thus opening the way for an efficient control as well as previously unknown applications of these processes.