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Competition between sequential and direct paths in a two-photon transition

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Laboratoire de Collisions, Agregats et Reactivite (CNRS UMR 5589), IRSAMC, Universite Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse Cedex (France)
Two-photon excitation of a quantum ladder system by a chirped pulse leads to interferences in the excited-state population, due to the phase differences between direct and sequential paths. First, based on an analytical approach, we separate and discuss the features of the contributions arising from these two paths. Then interferences with two intermediate levels are observed experimentally in atomic sodium vapor. Interplay between the two sequential paths leads to strongly contrasted oscillations and a great enhancement of the transition probability for some values of the chirp.
OSTI ID:
20640272
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 68; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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