The coherent control of LO-phonon quantum beats is analyzed theoretically w
ithin the density matrix formalism. By comparing results for one-, two-, an
d three-dimensional systems we find that the beat strength depends on the d
imension. It is shown that both the beat amplitude and the dephasing of the
interband polarization can be coherently controlled. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci
ence B.V. All rights reserved.