Back-reaction in strong field QED: a toy model

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