Coherent transient enhancement of optically induced resonant transitions

By applying pulse shaping techniques to a broadband 100 fs pulse in resonance with a two-level atomic transition, we are able to enhance the peak transient excited level population relative to that achievable with transform limited pulses. We also demonstrate how the dispersion induced by the absorption line itself leads to similar rapidly oscillating transients in the excited population. These transient population effects are applicable in any multiphoton resonant transition.