Does the field of a set of photons behave differently from a single photon.
e.g. Suppose I have a group of photons with their Electric fields $\mathbb{E}_n$ all aligned. So $$\mathbb{E}_{\text{tot}} = \mathbb{E}_1 + \mathbb{E}_2+ \text{...} + \mathbb{E}_n$$
and upon this field a single photon with parallel $\mathbb{E}_i$ field is incident. Does $\mathbb{E}_i$ scatter?
Or do I require such a large number of photons in $\mathbb{E}_{\text{tot}}$ that the field polarizes the underlying quantum vacuum to produce particle pair that scatter the $\mathbb{E}_i$ particle.
More simply put, can an electric field by itself scatter a photon?