0000000000213199

AUTHOR

D. Xenakis

Quantum Control in Atomic Systems

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.

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Observation of two-XUV-photon ionization using harmonic generation from a short, intense laser pulse

We report the observation of a two-photon ionization process in the XUV wavelength regime. In a near-resonant 1 + 1 ionization scheme, Ar atoms are ionized absorbing the 15 eV third harmonic photons produced in a gas jet by the 0.5 ps intense laser pulses of a KrF excimer laser emitting at 248.6 nm. The present demonstration of a non-linear process in the XUV regime reveals feasibility of high-intensity applications utilizing the uniquely high peak power of non-conventional short wavelength radiation sources based on harmonic generation.

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Observation of field phase dependent autoionization

We report on the observation of a field phase dependent autoionization rate of calcium in the region of the doubly excited state. Excitation of the autoionizing state occurs from the atomic ground state through two phase related and hence interfering channels, namely a three photon channel and a single photon channel , being the third harmonic of . The autoionization rate exhibits a sinusoidal modulation as a function of the relative phase of the two excitation fields. Both ionizing fields are not focused in the interaction region, thus demonstrating the possibility of phase control in a large interaction volume and free of phase shift effects associated with focused geometries.

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