title: Quantum control by ultrafast polarization shaping.
abstract: We demonstrate that the use of time-dependent light polarization opens a new level of control over quantum systems. With potassium dimer molecules from a supersonic molecular beam, we show that a polarization-shaped laser pulse increases the ionization yield beyond that obtained with an optimally shaped linearly polarized laser pulse. This is due to the different multiphoton ionization pathways in K2 involving dipole transitions which favor different polarization directions of the exciting laser field. This experiment is a qualitative extension of quantum control mechanisms which opens up new directions giving access to the three-dimensional temporal response of molecular systems.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brixner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krampert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wollenhaupt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Graefe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liese
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumert