Selective excitation and detection in multilevel spin systems: Application of single transition operators

Abstract

An alternative definition of single transition operators is given for the description of selective excitation and detection experiments in multilevel spin systems. This definition has the virtues of a simple physical interpretation and easy application to arbitrarily complicated systems. Some applications to the excitation and detection of multiple quantum transitions in spin 1 and spin 3/2 systems as well as in coupled spin systems are described.