Coherent Control of Population Transfer in Li Atoms via Chirped Microwave Pulses

We demonstrate theoretically that Li atoms can be transferred to states of a lower principal quantum number by exposing them to a frequency chirped microwave pulse. The population transfer of Li atoms from the n=75 state to n=70 with more than 90% efficiency is achieved by means of the sequential single-photon ∆ n=-1 transitions. The calculation fully utilizes all of the available orbital angular momentum l states for a given n, and the interference pattern and population evolution dynamics of individual l states are analyzed in detail. Using the time-dependent multilevel approach, we describe the process reasonably well as a sequence of adiabatic rapid passages.