Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Phase-controlled quantum interference in two-color atomic photoionization

Stefano Cavalieri, R. Eramo, Lorenzo Fini

Published Apr 1, 1997• 20 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report evidence of an interference process between two bound-free atomic transitions induced by laser fields. Sodium atoms, initially prepared in the ${3\mathrm{P}}_{1\mathrm{/}2}$ excited state, are ionized by a nonresonant three-photon interaction with 1064-nm laser light and by a one-photon interaction with the third-harmonic field, at 355 nm. Interference between the two transition paths allows the control of the total ionization rate by varying the relative phase of the laser fields. The experiment has provided a fringe visibility as high as 42%.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.55.2941

Related papers

Coherent control of atomic photoionization

Stefano Cavalieri, R. Eramo, Luca Fini +1 more

Coherent control provides a quantum interference based method for controlling atomic and molecular dynamics. We report two experimental observations of different ways to achieve such a control in atomic photoionization continuum. One is the photoionization of sodium atoms, initially prepared in the 3P1/2 excited state, by a non resonant three-photon interaction with 1064-nm laser light and by a one-photon interaction with the third-harmonic field, at 355 nm. Interference between the two transition paths allows the control of the total ionization rate by varying the relative phase of the laser fields. The second experiment is the observation of the modification of the ionization continua of xenon through laser induced continuum structure (LICS). The multiphoton radiative decay of the xenon ground state into the two electronic continua, that correspond to the two fine structure levels of the ground state of the xenon ion, is varied by electromagnetically embedding a bound state of the atom into the two continua. Both experiments are performed on an atomic beam apparatus which uses a time-of-flight spectrometer for energy analyzing the emitted photoelectrons.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 21, 1998•0 citations

Phase-sensitive multiphoton ionization

Ce Chen, Yi-Yian Yin, Daniel S. Elliott

We have demonstrated an interference between multiphoton ionization processes that results in a phase-sensitive enhancement or inhibition of the net ionization rate. We focus two laser beams, either of which can induce an atomic transition between the same two states, into a cell containing atomic mercury. One of the fields is at a wavelength of 185 nm and can linearly induce the 6s 1S0 → 6p 1P1 transition in mercury. The other field is at a wavelength precisely three times as long, and it can excite the 6p resonance by a three-photon process. The absorption of two additional visible photons ionizes the mercury. In the presence of both fields, the transition amplitudes interfere, and their relative phases become very important. Their phases can be controlled by controlling the phases of the optical fields inducing the transitions. Coherence between the two fields, vital for the interference, is ensured by generating one field from the other using a nonlinear third-harmonic process. We have also demonstrated the effect of spatial phase variations between the two fields on the local photo-ionization rate.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations

Two-color coherent control of atomic multiphoton ionization with high-order harmonics: time-dependent Schrödinger equation treatment

Richard Taïeb, Valérie Vëniard, A. Maquet

We present a theoretical study of the main characteristics of two-color photoionization spectra obtained when atoms are subjected to an intense radiation pulse containing the fundamental of an infrared laser and one of its higher harmonics. The frequency of the latter is chosen to be high enough that the atom can be ionized by a single photon. The calculation is performed by numerical integration of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a (three-dimensional) hydrogen atom. We present the general properties of the spectra and angular distributions as well as the possible occurrence of interferences between the laser-assisted process and above-threshold ionization. Our results indicate that such interference effects, which can lead to partial coherent control of the photoionization process, can be observed at moderate laser intensities within the reach of currently operated laser and harmonic sources.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Feb 1, 1996•25 citations

Phase control in two-colour multiphoton ionization

M. Protopapas, P. L. Knight

We examine the excitation dynamics of a model atom excited by a two-colour laser field. Here the two colours or frequencies are the fundamental and its third harmonic. The atomic model consists of two bound states which are near-resonantly coupled by a three-photon excitation by the fundamental and a one-photon excitation by the third harmonic, and a structureless continuum. We investigate how the laser parameters (intensity and frequency) and the relative phase between the two colours affects the degree of phase modulation in the ionization signal. We compare our findings from this simple model atom with those from more realistic atomic models by carrying out numerical integration of the hydrogenic Schrodinger equation in both one and three dimensions.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Oct 28, 1995•33 citations

dc Field-Induced, Phase and Polarization Control of Interference between One- and Two-Photon Ionization Amplitudes

Nikolai L. Manakov, Vitalii D Ovsiannikov, Anthony F. Starace

We demonstrate that a weak, static electric field enables nearly complete coherent phase control of the total ionization yield in a two-color ionization process using fundamental and second-harmonic radiation. The static electric field induces a dipole-forbidden resonance in the two-photon transition amplitude so that the final photoelectron states are identical to those in a single photon transition. We demonstrate also a phase controllable circular dichroism effect in the total photoelectron yield. Experimental realization of this process using alkali metal atoms is discussed.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 14, 1999•27 citations

Coherent control of third-harmonic generation and multiphoton ionization: Experimental and theoretical studies

Roberto Buffa, R. Eramo, CAVALIERI, STEFANO +1 more

The effect of temporal coherent control on the two-photon-resonant third-harmonic generation and multiphoton ionization into the continuum states of an atomic system is experimentally and theoretically investigated by means of a pair of partially incoherent, identical laser pulses. The evidence of quantum interference as a function of the delay between the pulses is reported. The transition from the resonant to the nonresonant case is also shown. The obtained results agree with the prediction of a theoretical model showing that the onset of quantum interference appears to be related to the coherence time of the laser radiation, which is much shorter than the pulse duration.

•Jan 1, 2005•0 citations
We report evidence of an interference process between two bound-free atomic transitions induced by laser fields. Sodium atoms, initially prepared in the 3P1/2{3\mathrm{P}}_{1\mathrm{/}2}3P1/2​ excited state, are ionized by a nonresonant three-photon interaction with 1064-nm laser light and by a one-photon interaction with the third-harmonic field, at 355 nm. Interference between the two transition paths allows the control of the total ionization rate by varying the relative phase of the laser fields. The experiment has provided a fringe visibility as high as 42%.
Coherent control provides a quantum interference based method for controlling atomic and molecular dynamics. We report two experimental observations of different ways to achieve such a control in atomic photoionization continuum. One is the photoionization of sodium atoms, initially prepared in the 3P1/2 excited state, by a non resonant three-photon interaction with 1064-nm laser light and by a one-photon interaction with the third-harmonic field, at 355 nm. Interference between the two transition paths allows the control of the total ionization rate by varying the relative phase of the laser fields. The second experiment is the observation of the modification of the ionization continua of xenon through laser induced continuum structure (LICS). The multiphoton radiative decay of the xenon ground state into the two electronic continua, that correspond to the two fine structure levels of the ground state of the xenon ion, is varied by electromagnetically embedding a bound state of the atom into the two continua. Both experiments are performed on an atomic beam apparatus which uses a time-of-flight spectrometer for energy analyzing the emitted photoelectrons.
We have demonstrated an interference between multiphoton ionization processes that results in a phase-sensitive enhancement or inhibition of the net ionization rate. We focus two laser beams, either of which can induce an atomic transition between the same two states, into a cell containing atomic mercury. One of the fields is at a wavelength of 185 nm and can linearly induce the 6s 1S0 → 6p 1P1 transition in mercury. The other field is at a wavelength precisely three times as long, and it can excite the 6p resonance by a three-photon process. The absorption of two additional visible photons ionizes the mercury. In the presence of both fields, the transition amplitudes interfere, and their relative phases become very important. Their phases can be controlled by controlling the phases of the optical fields inducing the transitions. Coherence between the two fields, vital for the interference, is ensured by generating one field from the other using a nonlinear third-harmonic process. We have also demonstrated the effect of spatial phase variations between the two fields on the local photo-ionization rate.
We present a theoretical study of the main characteristics of two-color photoionization spectra obtained when atoms are subjected to an intense radiation pulse containing the fundamental of an infrared laser and one of its higher harmonics. The frequency of the latter is chosen to be high enough that the atom can be ionized by a single photon. The calculation is performed by numerical integration of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a (three-dimensional) hydrogen atom. We present the general properties of the spectra and angular distributions as well as the possible occurrence of interferences between the laser-assisted process and above-threshold ionization. Our results indicate that such interference effects, which can lead to partial coherent control of the photoionization process, can be observed at moderate laser intensities within the reach of currently operated laser and harmonic sources.
We examine the excitation dynamics of a model atom excited by a two-colour laser field. Here the two colours or frequencies are the fundamental and its third harmonic. The atomic model consists of two bound states which are near-resonantly coupled by a three-photon excitation by the fundamental and a one-photon excitation by the third harmonic, and a structureless continuum. We investigate how the laser parameters (intensity and frequency) and the relative phase between the two colours affects the degree of phase modulation in the ionization signal. We compare our findings from this simple model atom with those from more realistic atomic models by carrying out numerical integration of the hydrogenic Schrodinger equation in both one and three dimensions.
We demonstrate that a weak, static electric field enables nearly complete coherent phase control of the total ionization yield in a two-color ionization process using fundamental and second-harmonic radiation. The static electric field induces a dipole-forbidden resonance in the two-photon transition amplitude so that the final photoelectron states are identical to those in a single photon transition. We demonstrate also a phase controllable circular dichroism effect in the total photoelectron yield. Experimental realization of this process using alkali metal atoms is discussed.
The effect of temporal coherent control on the two-photon-resonant third-harmonic generation and multiphoton ionization into the continuum states of an atomic system is experimentally and theoretically investigated by means of a pair of partially incoherent, identical laser pulses. The evidence of quantum interference as a function of the delay between the pulses is reported. The transition from the resonant to the nonresonant case is also shown. The obtained results agree with the prediction of a theoretical model showing that the onset of quantum interference appears to be related to the coherence time of the laser radiation, which is much shorter than the pulse duration.