CLASSICAL-THEORY OF NONLINEAR COMPTON-SCATTERING

The covariant dynamics of a single classical electron subjected to the electromagnetic field of an intense, linearly polarized, ultrashort l aser pulse in vacuum is studied in the context of the Dirac-Lorentz eq uation, which has long been suggested as a possible theory which inclu des radiative reaction. The Dirac-Lorentz equation is integrated numer ically using Dirac's suggestion that the acausal (no runaway) solution should produce physically interesting consequences. This appears to b e the case in our Compton scattering calculations, although the exact meaning of the results is not clear.