Non-intuitive Coherent Population Transfer

Zhou Yan-Wei, Ye Cun-Yun

Two approaches of achieving population transfer and coherence are investigated for the three-level Λ system in the adiabatic limit. The effects of the laser pulse sequence on the population transfer efficiency and coherence are studied. Coherent control of quantum state and population is studied by numerical simulation based on self-consistent set of density matrix equations. It can be seen that the counterintuitive pulse sequence is more efficient in population transfer and coherence than the intuitive one.

Klaas Bergmann, Bruce W. Shore

Thomas Lindvall, Mikko Merimaa, Ilkka Juhani Tittonen

Xianzhou Zhang, Ma Qiao-Zhi, Li Xiao-Hong

By using the time-dependent multilevel approach, we have calculated the coherent population transfer among the quantum states of potassium atom by a single frequency-chirped laser pulse. The results show that the population can be efficiently transferred to a target state and be trapped there by using an `intuitive' or a `counter-intuitive' frequency sweep laser pulse in the case of `narrowband' frequency-chirped laser pulse. It is also found that a pair of sequential `broadband' frequency-chirped laser pulses can efficiently transfer population from one ground state of the Λ atom to the other one.

Ignacio R. Solá, Vladimir S. Malinovsky

We show that a counter-intuitive pulse sequence leads to adiabatic passage between the vibrational levels of three harmonic potentials through parallel dark states in adiabatic approximation. However, the adiabatic assumptions break down for very intense pulses and non-adiabatic couplings result in the population transfer by light-induced potential shaping.

Klaas Bergmann, J. Martin, Bruce W. Shore