Ultrafast quantum control in atoms and molecules

Abstract

This paper reviews recent progress in experiments to control quantum dynamics in condensed phase and gas phase systems, using shaped ultrafast radiation. Many of the same techniques that have led to laser pulses in the 10 fs–100 ps10fs–100ps range can also be applied to the control of quantum systems with similar dynamical time scales. Systems under study include electron wave packets in Rydberg atoms, chemical dynamics in molecular liquids and lattice dynamics in crystalline solids. The feature common to each of these systems is ultrafast response. Shaped intense ultrafast radiation initiates the dynamics, which can then be studied using several new techniques. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.