Optimal quantum control in nanostructures:: Theory and application to a generic three-level system -: art. no. 053811

Coherent carrier control in quantum nanostructures is studied within the framework of optimal control. We develop a general solution scheme for the optimization of an external control (e.g., lasers pulses), which allows to channel the system's wave function between two given states in its most efficient way; physically motivated constraints, such as limited laser resources or population suppression of certain states, can be accounted for through a general cost functional. Using a generic three-level scheme for the quantum system, we demonstrate the applicability of our approach and identify the pertinent calculation and convergence parameters.