Adiabatic approximation for a two-level atom in a light beam (Q355212)

The paper addresses the issue of the mathematically rigorous derivation of an adiabatic approximation for the generic model of a two-level atom resonantly coupled to the laser beam. The analysis is built on the basis of earlier heuristic derivations published in physical literature. The rigorous analysis is based on the separation of low and high frequencies (or spatial wavenumbers). Surprisingly, the most serious technical problems are related not to nonlinear terms of the underlying model, but rather but linear ones. The final estimates are not sharp, but they provide a sufficient understanding of validity of the asymptotic approximation. In particular, it is demonstrated that the approximation provides results about the possibility of the existence of vortices in the two-dimensional setting.