Steering Rydberg wave packets using a chirped train of half-cycle pulses

Abstract

We present protocols for steering a Rydberg wave packet towards a preferred region in phase space using a train of half-cycle pulses. Developing such protocols is aided by classical phase space portraits. The classical phase space changes its structure as the frequency and the strength of a train of pulses are modulated. The quantum wave packet can be made to follow such a change. The movement of the wave packet can thus be controlled by a proper modulation of the perturbation. In addition, this technique can be used to create a focused wave packet or to transfer it from one island to another associated with a different quasi-periodic motion.