From quantum to classical description of intense laser-atom physics with Bohmian trajectories

TL;DR

This paper applies Bohmian mechanics to intense laser-atom interactions, showing how electron behavior transitions from quantum to classical as it is driven away from the ion, supporting semiclassical models.

Contribution

It introduces Bohmian trajectories into intense laser-atom physics, demonstrating the quantum-to-classical transition of electron dynamics post-ionization.

Findings

Quantum potential becomes negligible during electron ionization

Electron trajectories transition from quantum to classical behavior

Supports semiclassical trajectory methods in laser-atom physics

Abstract

In this paper, Bohmian mechanics is introduced to the intense laser-atom physics. The motion of atomic electron in intense laser field is obtained from the Bohm-Newton equation. We find the quantum potential that dominates the quantum effect of a physical system becomes negligible as the electron is driven far away from the parent ion by the intense laser field, i.e. the behavior of the electron smoothly trends to be classical soon after the electron was ionized. Our numerical calculations present a direct positive evidence for the semiclassical trajectory methods in the intense laser-atom physics where the motion of the ionized electron is treated by the classical mechanics, while quantum mechanics is needed before the ionization.