Atoms, molecules, and quantum wells: what one teaches us about the other

Some aspects of quantum well physics are very closely related to atomic and molecular physics. Quantum well and quantum dot semiconductor structures are, in some sense, artificial atoms (single well structures) and molecules (multiple well structures). We use this analogy to extend the ideas and results on laser interaction with atoms and molecules to the physics of laser interaction with quantum wells. We also try to use ideas developed in quantum well physics to understand molecular phenomena. For example, motivated by the analogy between quantum wells and atoms, we have experimentally demonstrated all-optical control of the direction of photocurrent in quantum well devices