Atomic coherence and interference phenomena in resonant nonlinear optical interactions

Interference effects in quantum transitions, giving rise to amplification without inversion, optical transparency and to enhancements in nonlinear optical frequency conversions are considered. Review of the relevant early theoretical and experimental results is given. The role of relaxation processes, spontaneous cascade of polarizations, local field effects, Doppler-broadening, as well as specific features of the interference in the spectral continuum are discussed.