The Scattering of Light by Light

1951/08/15 by Robert Karplus, Maurice Neuman · 349 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Molecular Physics #Atomic physics #Cross section (physics) #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Light scattering #Optics #Physics #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum mechanics #Scattering #Scattering cross-section #Scattering length

paper · doi:10.1103/physrev.83.776

published in Physical Review 83(4), 776-784 (American Institute of Physics)

openalex publication_date 1951/08/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Cross sections for several processes involving electromagnetic fields in a nonlinear manner are derived from the electrodynamic scattering matrix and are expressed in terms of the fourth-order nonlinear vacuum polarization tensor. The differential cross section for the scattering of light by light is calculated as a function of energy and angle. Numerical values are given for scattering at zero and at ninety degrees in the center-of-mass system. Near 1.75 Mev the forward scattering cross section has its largest value of 4.1\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-31 cm²/sterad, while the maximum right-angle scattering takes place near 0.7 Mev with a cross section of 2.8\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-31 cm²/sterad, all for unpolarized radiation. Numerical results are also given for scattering at the above angles between circularly polarized states. The conclusions in this paper agree with all the results previously calculated for special cases.

Citations

• Collision of Two Light Quanta
• Variational Principles for Scattering Processes. I
• On the stopping of fast particles and on the creation of positive electrons

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