Coherent exciton–photon interaction and pulse propagation effects of bound exciton states in CdS

Abstract
Measuring the transform‐limited time‐resolved spectrum of a coherent laser pulse allows one to determine the amplitude and phase of the pulse electric field. From the reshaping of pulses transmitted through a thin semiconductor platelet in resonance with an exciton transition in case of the donor bound exciton in CdS the effects of coherent exciton–photon interaction for different laser intensities can be studied. While at low intensities the expected polariton beating connected with the formation of a 0π‐pulse is observed, at sufficiently high intensities changes in the pulse shape occur that are ascribed to self‐induced transparency of the bound exciton states.