Abstract

For a quantum system in which a continuous or quasi-continuous band of levels is excited by means of several dipole interaction channels, we develop a mathematical theory that simplifies the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. The theory allows time-varying electric fields (or electric-field envelopes). It also takes into account the exact shape of the band as well as the fact that different excitation channels see different band shapes. Accuracy of the results can be as high as desired. We show that the dephasing of the quasi-continuum probability amplitudes in the conventional continuum basis corresponds to the propagation of well-defined waves in the new basis that we introduce.

© 1985 Optical Society of America

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