Professor R. Jensen is one of the leading researchers in the world regarding the classical and quantum descriptions of chaotic systems. By studying the experimental results for the microwave ionization of highly excited hydrogen atoms, he plans to explore the problem of quantum chaos. In particular, he wants to study the connection between classical chaos and quantum chaos. In addition, he hopes to gain new insight into the strong interaction of radiation with matter and the interaction of strongly coupled many-body systems. Professor Jensen is the most active and versatile young physics theorist interested in the fundamental problem of the relation between classical and quantum chaos. He proposes to study this problem by focussing on the coupling of microwave radiation with atomic hydrogen. This work provides one of the best opportunities to explore the apparent inconsistency between quantum mechanics and deterministic chaos. There is a strong coupling between theory and experiments in the proposed work, which also involves the study of the behavior of atoms under the influence of intense external fields. This research will eventually lead to a greater understanding of the value of semiclassical methods in quantum dynamics.
