Interference-induced transparency and coherent control of quantum systems by frequency-chirped pulses

A selective excitation technique based on light interference is proposed to control quantum systems by frequency-chirped laser fields. Interference of two identical, delayed and phase-shifted pulses is used to modulate the laser spectrum and project it onto the time domain. By adjusting the delay and phase shift, selected transitions can be brought into the "holes" of the spectrum and thus remain nonexcited. The possibility to selectively manipulate or even "shut down" resonant transitions, making the medium transparent to the field, is shown for the Rb atom.