Three-state quantum systems: A procedure for the solution

Abstract

An iterative method to obtain a solution of the differential equation Mathematical expression, with Ĥ a 3×3 Hermitian matrix and a the unknown vector, is proposed. The procedure is particularly suitable for computer implementation and, as an example, has been applied to find the excitation probability of a three-level atom after the synchronous passage of two laser pulses each almost resonant with a pair of atomic levels. © 1989 Società Italiana di Fisica.