Quantum control and quantum control landscapes using intense shaped femtosecond pulses

A hitherto not considered physical mechanism of quantum control with intense shaped femtosecond laser pulses is investigated. Phase modulated pulses are used to exert control on the strong-field ionization of potassium atoms. We use a sinusoidal phase modulation function to manipulate the intensity of the Autler-Townes (AT) components in the photoelectron spectrum. The effect of all sine parameters is studied systematically. In addition, controllability is investigated using parameterized pulse shapes to generate a two-dimensional quantum control landscape. Our results show that the selective population of dressed states is the underlying strong-field physical mechanism. Due to its robustness with respect to the laser parameters, the selective dressed state population is an important general control mechanism.