Selective Excitation and Creation of Population Inversion in Quantum Systems Using Unipolar Attosecond and Terahertz Pulses

Abstract The possibility of selective population of the energy levels of quantum systems using a single unipolar subcycle pulse and a pair of pulses has been studied. The possibility of selective population of quantum levels has been clearly illustrated based on the numerical solution of a system of equations for the density matrix of a three-level medium that interacts with a pair of subcycle attosecond and terahertz pulses. The possibility of creating a population inversion in a three-level medium using a pair of such pulses has been shown. The dynamics of population gratings in a three-level medium exposed to the action of a pair of Gaussian pulses of large amplitude on the system is studied. Whereas the shape of the gratings in a weak field is harmonic, according to analytical calculations performed by the perturbation theory, in the case of a strong field, the spatial profile of the gratings may differ from the sinusoidal profile and may have a complex structure of peaks.