% graduate school requirement: less than 350 words

\chapter*{Abstract}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{Abstract}

Coherent multidimensional spectroscopy (CMDS) encompasses a family of experimental strategies
involving the nonlinear interaction between electric fields and a material under investigation.  %
This approach has several unique capabilities:
\begin{denumerate}
  \item resolving congested states \cite{ZhaoWei1999b, DonaldsonPaulMurray2008a}
  \item extracting spectra that would otherwise be selection-rule disallowed
    \cite{BoyleErinSelene2013b, BoyleErinSelene2014a},
  \item resolving fully coherent dynamics \cite{PakoulevAndreiV2009a}, 
  \item measuring coupling \cite{WrightJohnCurtis2011a}, and
  \item resolving ultrafast dynamics.  % TODO: cite
\end{denumerate}
  
CMDS can be collected in the frequency or the time domain, and each approach has advantages and
disadvantages. \cite{ParkKisam1998a}  %
Frequency domain ``Multi-resonant'' CMDS (MR-CMDS) requires pulsed ultrafast light sources with
tunable output frequencies.  %
These pulses are directed into a material under investigation.  %
The pulses interact with the material, and due to the specific interference between the multiple
fields the material is driven to emit a new pulse: the MR-CMDS signal.  %
This signal may have a different frequency and/or direction than the input pulses, depending on the
exact experiment being performed.  % 
The MR-CMDS experiment involves tracking the intensity of this output signal as a function of
different properties of the excitation pulses.  %
These properties include
1. frequency
2. relative arrival time and separation (delay)
3. fluence \cite{OmariAbdoulghafar2012a, SheikBahaeMansoor1990a}, and
4. polarization \cite{FournierFrederic2009a}, among others.  %
Thus MR-CMDS can be thought of as a multidimensional experimental space, where experiments
typically involve explorations in one to four of the properties above.  %
% BJT: emphasize UP TO four dimensions, practically

Because MR-CMDS is a family of related-but-separate experiments, each of them a multidimensional
space, there are special challenges that must be addressed when designing a general-purpose MR-CMDS
instrument.  % BJT: be more specific about the challenge at hand
These issues require development of software, hardware, and theory.  %
\hyperref[prt:background]{Part I: Background} introduces relevant literature which informs on this
development work.  %
\hyperref[prt:development]{Part II: Development} presents five strategies used to improve MR-CMDS:
1. processing software (\autoref{cha:pro}), 2. acquisition software (\autoref{cha:acq}) 3, active
artifact correction (\autoref{cha:act}), 4. automated OPA calibration (\autoref{cha:opa}), and 5.
finite pulse accountancy (\autoref{cha:mix}).  %
Finally, \hyperref[prt:applications]{Part III: Applications} presents four examples where these
instruments, with these improvements, have been used to address chemical questions in semiconductor
systems.  %