Introductory Quantum Optics

Upper-level undergraduate text in quantum optics.

Christopher Gerry (Author), Peter Knight (Author)

9780521527354, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 October 2004

332 pages, 101 b/w illus. 3 tables 150 exercises
24.8 x 19 x 1.9 cm, 0.59 kg

'… the book is well argued throughout and subject applications are explained beautifully.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

This book provides an elementary introduction to the subject of quantum optics, the study of the quantum mechanical nature of light and its interaction with matter. The presentation is almost entirely concerned with the quantized electromagnetic field. Topics covered include single-mode field quantization in a cavity, quantization of multimode fields, quantum phase, coherent states, quasi-probability distribution in phase space, atom-field interactions, the Jaynes-Cummings model, quantum coherence theory, beam splitters and interferometers, dissipative interactions, nonclassical field states with squeezing etc., 'Schrödinger cat' states, tests of local realism with entangled photons from down-conversion, experimental realizations of cavity quantum electrodynamics, trapped ions, decoherence, and some applications to quantum information processing, particularly quantum cryptography. The book contains many homework problems and an extensive bibliography. This text is designed for upper-level undergraduates taking courses in quantum optics who have already taken a course in quantum mechanics, and for first and second year graduate students.

1. Introduction
2. Field quantization
3. Coherent states
4. Emission and absorption of radiation by atoms
5. Quantum coherence functions
6. Beam splitters and interferometers
7. Nonclassical light
8. Dissipative interactions and decoherence
9. Optical test of quantum mechanics
10. Experiments in cavity QED and with trapped ions
11. Applications of entanglement: Heisenberg-limited interferometry and quantum information processing
Appendix A. The density operator, entangled states, the Schmidt decomposition, and the von Neumann entropy
Appendix B. Quantum measurement theory in a (very small) nutshell
Appendix C. Derivation of the effective Hamiltonian for dispersive (far off-resonant) interactions
Appendix D. Nonlinear optics and spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

Subject Areas: Electronics & communications engineering [TJ], Quantum physics [quantum mechanics & quantum field theory PHQ], Optical physics [PHJ]