MULTIMODE FLOQUET THEORY FOR ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR LASER-MODIFIED COLLISION PROCESSES

We outline a multimode-Floquet-based approach to the analysis of atomi c and molecular laser-modified collision processes. The approach depen ds upon Fourier decomposition of the radiation field and identificatio n of time-independent laser-interaction elements in the Floquet repres entation. The corresponding time-independent Floquet dynamical equatio ns are solved and S-matrix elements between the various Floquet channe ls collected to determine the transition probabilities of interest. Th e approach is examined for laser excitation in a model energy transfer system. Results are compared with ones obtained conventionally, i.e., by explicitly following the time dependence of the held amplitude. We conclude that the Floquet method nicely complements the conventional. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.