Nonlinear Schrodinger equation and classical-field description of the Lamb-Retherford experiment

Abstract

I show that Lamb-Retherford experiment can be fully described within the framework of classical field theory without using concepts such as the discrete states of the atom and jump-like electron transitions between them. The rate of stimulated decay of the metastable state of a hydrogen atom in an external periodic electric field is determined. The dependence of this rate on the frequency and amplitude of the external electric field, as well as on the parameters of the atom, has been obtained. It is shown that the maximum value of the stimulated decay rate of the metastable state of a hydrogen atom is achieved at an external electric field frequency equal to the frequency shift corresponding to either the fine structure of the hydrogen atom or the Lamb shift.