Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-1985

Abstract

We use techniques of singular perturbation theory to investigate the scattering of nonrelativistic charged particles by a standing light wave (Kapitza-Dirac scattering). Unlike previous treatments, we give explicit results for the effects of the time-dependent part of the field. For low field intensity or low particle energy, we show that the leading-order effects can be found from an averaged equation, and we compute corrections. For the strong fields that can be produced by modern lasers and/or high particle energies, we show that the time dependence of the potential leads to focusing. Our methods can be applied to other problems with time-periodic potentials.

Publisher

American Physical Society

Publication Title

Physical Review A

ISSN

1050-2947

Volume

31

Issue

5

First Page

3155

Last Page

3168

Language (ISO)

English

Sponsorship

American Physical Society

Comments

Article author is part of the Main Campus Math Department.

Included in

Mathematics Commons

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