Backreaction in strong field QED: A toy model

Abstract

As a toy model for QED in strong background fields, we consider the impact of backreaction and loop effects on scattering processes in quantum optics. We show that neglecting backreaction misses qualitative and quantitative features of strong-field physics. We are able to study an analog of the Narozhny-Ritus conjecture on the scaling of higher loop diagrams with intensity: we prove that there is no corresponding behavior in our model. Implications for QED are identified and discussed.