The Dynamics of Compact Laser Pulses

TL;DR

This paper explores exact finite energy solutions to Maxwell's equations as models for laser pulses, analyzing their properties and classical interactions, and proposing a quantum description for pulse-medium interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a new class of finite energy solutions to Maxwell's equations and links classical pulse behavior to a quantum phenomenological model.

Findings

Classified solutions based on chiral content.

Analyzed classical interactions with charged particles.

Proposed a quantum Hamiltonian for pulse-medium interactions.

Abstract

We discuss the use of a class of exact finite energy solutions to the vacuum source-free Maxwell equations as models for multi- and single cycle laser pulses in classical interaction with relativistic charged point particles. These compact solutions are classified in terms of their chiral content and their influence on particular charge configurations in space. The results of such classical interactions motivate a phenomenological quantum description of a propagating laser pulse in a medium in terms of an effective quantum Hamiltonian.