Quantum state control of a Raman-coupled spinor BEC

We have investigated the conditions under which it is possible to coherently prepare a BEC in a desired spinor state using a series of off-resonant Raman-detuned laser pulses. We find that over a wide range of experimental parameters it is possible to design a pulse-sequence protocol for controlling both the amplitudes and relative phases of the components of the spinor order parameter of alkali metal BECs. We apply these results specifically to $^{87}$Rb in the F=2 ground hyperfine state, and compare the predictions of the theoretical model against experimental results.