Ultrafast and efficient coherence creation in Λ-like atomic systems driven by nonlinearly chirped few-cycle pulses

Abstract: We report an ultrafast and efficient way to create the maximum coherence between the two lower states in a -like atomic systems, driven by two nonlinearly chirped few-cycle pulses. The phenomenon of coherent population trapping and electromagnetically induced population transfer are investigated by solving the appropriate density matrix equations without invoking the rotating wave approximation. The robustness of the scheme for maximum coherence against the variation of the laser parameters are tested numerically. We also demonstrate that the proposed scheme could be used to obtain complete population transfer to an initially empty ground state.