Applications of wavepacket methodology

Wavepackets, coherent sums of quantum states, are now well understood both theoretically and experimentally in terms of their creation, evolution and detection. When mature enough, wavepacket methods might themselves be considered a ‘technology’. In this paper we address this conjecture and consider the application of wavepacket ideas and techniques to problems such as coherent control, lifetimes of Rydberg states and laser isotope separation. We suggest that wavepacket methods might be thought of more broadly as a potential tool to solve a variety of practical problems.