Two-Pathway Coherent Control of Optical Interactions

这项计划集中在一系列实验研究的方法和应用的技术，以控制原子系统中的光学相互作用利用这些相互作用的相干性质。这些双路径相干控制过程利用了在原子、分子或凝聚相系统中，当光学相互作用通过两条不同的激发路径进行时发生的干涉。这种干扰已被证明导致激发几率的增强或抑制，控制光电子或光离子的传播方向，以及控制光电离或光解离到不同连续谱通道的分支比。该计划中的项目包括：1)将探索自电离共振对干涉相位的作用的一系列测量；2)开发用于灵敏地检测微弱光学跃迁的技术；以及3)详细研究对激光场相不敏感的强健形式的干涉。

This program focuses on a series of experimental investigations of methods and applications of a technique for controlling optical interactions in atomic systems by taking advantage of the coherence properties of these interactions. These Two-Pathway Coherent Control processes make use of an interference that occurs when optical interactions proceed via two distinct excitation routes in atomic, molecular, or condensed phase systems. This interference has been shown to result in an enhancement or inhibition of excitation probabilities, control of the direction of propagation of photoelectrons or photoions, and control over the branching ratios of photoionization or photodissociation into different continuum channels. The projects in the program include: 1) a series of measurements that will explore the role of autoionizing resonances on the phase of the interference; 2) development of a techniques for sensitive detection of weak optical transitions; and 3) detailed investigations of a robust form of interference that is insensitive to the phase of the laser field.