https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530170212
General theory of population transfer by adiabatic rapid passage with intense, chirped laser pulses
University of Florida, Quantum Theory Project,
P.O. Box 118435, Gainesville, FL 32611–8435, USA
Corresponding author: a krause@qtp.ufl.edu
Received:
6
September
2000
Revised:
25
September
2000
Published online: 15 May 2001
We present a general theory of adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) with intense, linearly chirped laser pulses. For pulses with a Gaussian profile and a fixed bandwidth, we derive a rigorous formula for the maximum temporal chirp rate that can be sustained by the pulse. A modified Landau-Zener formula displays clearly the relationships among the pulse parameters. This formula is used to derive the optimal conditions for efficient, robust population transfer. As illustrations of the theory, we present results for two- and four-level systems, and selective vibronic excitation in the I2 molecule. We demonstrate that population transfer with chirped pulses is more robust and more selective than population transfer with transform-limited pulses.
PACS: 33.80.-b – Photon interactions with molecules / 42.50.-p – Quantum optics
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2001
