% 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: 1. resolving congested states [CITE KLUG and % JCW Zhao and Wright-JACS], 
2. extracting spectra that would otherwise be selection-rule disallowed [CITE BOYLE], 3. resolving
fully coherent dyanmics [CITE % JCW Pakoulev and Wright], 
4. measuring coupling [CITE], and 5. resolving ultrafast dynamics
[CITE].  %

CMDS can be collected in the frequency or the time domain, and each approach has advantages and
disadvantages.  %
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 be different in frequency from the input pulses, and it may travel in a new
direction 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 Z-SCAN], and 4. polarization [CITE KLUG], 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.  %

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.  %
These issues require development of software, hardware, and theory.  %
Five different improvements to MR-CMDS are presented in this dissertation: 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}).  %
\hyperref[prt:background]{Part I: Background} introduces relevant literature which informs on this
development work.  %
Finally, \hyperref[prt:applications]{Part III: Applications} presents three examples where these
instruments, with these improvements, have been used to address chemical questions in
semiconductor systems.  %