Quantum control of the angular momentum distribution in multiphoton absorption processes

The newly developed technique of polarization pulse shaping is applied to the control of two-photon absorption in atomic rubidium. This technique enables the manipulation of the transient vector properties of a light matter interaction. We establish that control can be exerted on the angular distribution of the final state, and demonstrate the ability to control the final state population of a nearly degenerate system, as well as to perform M-state resolved spectroscopy.