Abstract
Chapter 4 treats the three most important coherent optical transient phenomena using primarily the Bloch vector model. One section is devoted to each effect: nutation, free induction decay (FID), and photon echo. Through this, the idea that steady‐state response to light develops slowly, on a timescale set by inertia in the atom–field interaction, is introduced. In the last section, three possible approaches to describing the photon echo are briefly compared to gain perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of algebraic, matrix multiplication, or density matrix methodology. By the end of this chapter the reader is prepared for the remaining chapters in which the density matrix approach is used exclusively to calculate the effects of light.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
