Coherent states radiation phase structure

A wide variety of four-wave-mixing processes are important in the generation of laser-like beams of electromagnetic radiation and also in phase-coherent interrogation of the structural and dynamical properties of molecules. Since three beams of radiation, each with its own frequency, propagation direction, and polarization state, are combined to generate a fourth beam,... 

The ability to create and observe coherent dynamics in heterostructures offers the intriguing possibility to control the dynamics of the charge carriers. Recent experiments have shown that control in such systems is indeed possible. For example, phase-locked laser pulses can be used to coherently amplify or suppress THz radiation in a coupled quantum well [5]. The direction of a photocurrent can be controlled by exciting a structure with a laser field and its second harmonic, and then varying the phase difference between the two fields [8,9]. Phase-locked pulses tuned to excitonic resonances allow population control and coherent destruction of heavy hole wave packets [10]. Complex filters can be designed to enhance specific characteristics of the THz emission [11,12]. These experiments are impressive demonstrations of the ability to control the microscopic and macroscopic dynamics of solid-state systems. 

Recently, there has been much interest in the development and application of multidimensional coherent nonlinear femtosecond techniques for the study of electronic and vibrational dynamics of molecules [1], In such experiments more than two laser pulses have been used [2-4] and the combination of laser pulses in the sample creates a nonlinear polarization, which in turn radiates an electric field. The multiple laser pulses create wave packets of molecular states and establish a definite phase relationship (or coherence) between the different states. The laser pulses can create, manipulate and probe this coherence, which is strongly dependent on the molecular structure, coupling mechanisms and the molecular environment, making the technique a potentially powerful method for studies of large molecules. 

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