Matrix perturbation theory for driven three-level systems with damping

We investigate the dynamics of the A system driven by two resonant laser fields in presence of dissipation for coupling strengths where the rotating-wave approximation starts to break down. This regime is characterised by Rabi frequencies being approximately equal or smaller than the field frequencies. A systematic procedure to obtain an expansion for the solution of the Bloch evolution equations of the system is presented. The lowest contribution results to be the well-known rotating-wave approximation. The method is based on a semi-classical treatment of the problem, and its predictions are interpreted fully quantum mechanically. The theory is illustrated by a detailed study of the disappearance of coherent population trapping as the intensities of the fields increase. (C) 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.