title: Switched wave packets: a route to nonperturbative quantum control.
abstract: The dynamic Stark effect due to a strong nonresonant but nonionizing laser field provides a route to quantum control via the creation of novel superposition states. We consider the creation of a field-free "switched" wave packet through adiabatic turn-on and sudden turn-off of a strong dynamic Stark interaction. There are two limiting cases for such wave packets. The first is a Raman-type coupling, illustrated by the creation of field-free molecular axis alignment. An experimental demonstration is given. The second case is that of dipole-type coupling, illustrated by the creation of charge localization in an array of quantum wells.
authors.affiliation: Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6.
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spanner
authors.forename: Misha Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Ivanov
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mottershead
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sussman
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stolow