OPTIMAL-CONTROL OF POPULATION TRANSFER IN AN OPTICALLY DENSE MEDIUM

We apply the optimal control technique (OCT) to design an optical puls e pair that controls the population transfer in a medium of three-leve l atoms. The absorption and reshaping of the controlling pulses by the medium are taken into account. The efficiency of the population trans fer is improved significantly compared with designs that do not incorp orate pulse absorption and reshaping. (C) 1996 American Institute of P hysics.