Model for the Atomic Dielectric Response in Time Dependent Laser Fields

Abstract

A nonlocal quantum model is presented for calculating the atomic dielectric response to a strong laser electric field. By replacing the Coulomb potential with a nonlocal potential in the Schrodinger equation, a 3+1D calculation of the time-dependent electric dipole moment can be replaced with a 0+1D integral equation, offering significant computational savings. The model is benchmarked against an established ionization model and \textit{ab initio} simulation of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. The reduced computational overhead makes the model a promising candidate to incorporate full quantum mechanical time dynamics in laser pulse propagation simulations.