Digital three-state adiabatic passage

TL;DR

This paper investigates digital control protocols for three-state adiabatic passage, analyzing how stepwise variations affect the process and identifying conditions that preserve or hinder state transfer.

Contribution

It introduces and analyzes digital, stepwise control schemes for three-state adiabatic passage, extending traditional continuous methods.

Findings

Digital protocols can replicate key features of conventional adiabatic passage.

Additional resonances can occur, preventing state transfer.

Stepwise control schemes are viable alternatives to smooth variations.

Abstract

We explore protocols for three-state adiabatic passage where the tunnel matrix elements are varied digitally, rather than smoothly as is the case with conventional adiabatic passage. In particular, we focus on the STIRAP and related three-state schemes where the control is applied stepwise, with either equal spaced levels for the tunnel matrix elements or uniform pulse lengths. Our results show that the evolution typically shows the hallmarks of conventional adiabatic passage, although with additional resonances exhibiting no state transfer.