Quantum Control in Atomic Systems

1999

We review a series of recent experiments demonstrating quantum control of atomic processes and products induced by the interaction of the atom with coherent bichromatic electromagnetic fields. Since the effects under consideration are electromagnetically induced, control is established through the field parameters i.e. frequency, amplitude and phase. The controlled processes include resonant and non resonant multiphoton ionization, autoionization, radiative decay in multiple continua (ionization branching ratios) and third harmonic generation.