Coherent control of intersubband transitions in semiconductor nanostructures

We investigate theoretically coherent control of optical absorption and emission (optical gain) in semiconductor double wells by use of two coherent light sources. Our analysis is baaed on a microscopic theory of optical excitation in semiconductors which accounts for many-body effects. Specifically, we show that electron-hole pair (exciton) formation in an asymmetric double well can be controlled by intensity and phase of a dc microwave (MW) field if the pulse duration lies below the MW-induced Rabi period. Similarly, resonant MW fields are shown to allow control of intersubband absorption and emission spectra of semiconductor heterostructures.