title: Phase control of photoabsorption in optically dense media
abstract: We present a self-consistent theory, as well as an illustrative application to a realistic system, of phase control of photoabsorption in an optically dense medium. We demonstrate that, when propagation effects are taken into consideration, the impact on phase control is significant. Independent of the value of the initial phase difference between the two fields, over a short scaled distance of propagation, the medium tends to settle the relative phase so that it cancels the atomic excitation. In addition, we find some rather unusual behavior for an optically thin layer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, FORTH, P.O. Box 1527, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece and Institute for Physical Research, ANAS, Ashtarak-2, 378410, Armenia.
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrosyan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lambropoulos