Dynamics of a charged particle in a linearly polarized traveling wave, Hamiltonian approach to laser-matter interaction at very high intensities

Summary form only given, as follows. The relativistic motion of a charged particle in a linearly polarized homogeneous electromagnetic wave is considered by using the Hamiltonian formalism. First, the motion of a single particle in a linearly polarized traveling wave propagating in a non-magnetized space is studied. The results obtained are also derived considering an electromagnetic wave propagating in cold electron plasma. When the phase velocity of the wave is close to the speed of light it is shown that the two approaches are in good agreement during a finite time. This point is discussed in details in order to define the domain of validity of a Hamiltonian description in which all the charged particles of the plasma ignore each other.