Strong-Field Phenomena in Atoms - Quasiclassical Approach

A quasiclassical (WKB) approach is used to construct a theory of atomic transitions induced by a strong light field. This approach is used to find the "Coulomb-Volkov" solutions of the Schrödinger equation in which both the Coulomb and light fields are taken into account. These solutions are shown to be applicable in a region of low light frequencies, low electron energies and angular momenta. The found solutions are used to describe two kinds of processes: strong-field photoionization from highly excited (Rydberg) atomic levels, and field-assisted electron-ion scattering. In the photoionization problem the strong-field complex quasi-energies of an atom are found. A problem of the strong-field stabilization of an atom, as well as the expected behavior of the ionization time in its dependence on the light field strength are discussed.