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Accueil > Publications > Publications par année > Année 2008

Coherent control of spin–orbit precession with shaped laser pulses

Spin precession in rubidium atoms is investigated through a pump–probe technique. The excited wave packet corresponds to a precession of spin and orbital angular momentum around the total angular momentum. We show that using shaped laser pulses allows us to control this dynamics. With a Fourier transform limited pulse, the wave packet is initially prepared in the bright state (coupled to the initial state) whereas a pulse presenting a π step in the spectral phase prepares the wave packet in the dark state (uncoupled to the initial state).

Voir en ligne : J. Phys. B : At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 41 (2008) 074023 (5pp)