On the topology of adiabatic passage

TL;DR

This paper explores the topology of eigenenergy surfaces in adiabatic passage processes, providing insights into population transfer mechanisms and enabling new control strategies in quantum systems.

Contribution

It introduces a topological perspective to analyze adiabatic passage, reinterprets known processes, and proposes new methods for selective population control.

Findings

Topology is key to understanding population transfer outcomes.

Reinterpretation of STIRAP, SCRAP, and chirped adiabatic passages.

New control possibilities for state selection in quantum systems.

Abstract

We examine the topology of eigenenergy surfaces characterizing the population transfer processes based on adiabatic passage. We show that this topology is the essential feature for the analysis of the population transfers and the prediction of its final result. We reinterpret diverse known processes, such as stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP), frequency-chirped adiabatic passage and Stark-chirped rapid adiabatic passage (SCRAP). Moreover, using this picture, we display new related possibilities of transfer. In particular, we show that we can selectively control the level which will be populated in STIRAP process in Lambda or V systems by the choice of the peak amplitudes or the pulse sequence.