Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics

This book presents a systematic account of optical coherence theory within the framework of classical optics.

Leonard Mandel (Author), Emil Wolf (Author)

9780521417112, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 September 1995

1194 pages
25.9 x 18.6 x 5 cm, 2.008 kg

"...presented in the scholarly and careful fashion that one would expect from the authors, and the chapters are a pleasure to read....All in all, Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics is a wonderful book....It is a definite must for any serious student of modern optics." American Journal of Physics

This book presents a systematic account of optical coherence theory within the framework of classical optics, as applied to such topics as radiation from sources of different states of coherence, foundations of radiometry, effects of source coherence on the spectra of radiated fields, coherence theory of laser modes, and scattering of partially coherent light by random media. The book starts with a full mathematical introduction to the subject area and each chapter concludes with a set of exercises. The authors are renowned scientists and have made substantial contributions to many of the topics treated in the book. Much of the book is based on courses given by them at universities, scientific meetings and laboratories throughout the world. This book will undoubtedly become an indispensable aid to scientists and engineers concerned with modern optics, as well as to teachers and graduate students of physics and engineering.

Preface
1. Elements of probability theory
2. Random (or stochastic) processes
3. Some useful mathematical techniques
4. Second-order coherence theory of scalar wavefields
5. Radiation from sources of any state of coherence
6. Second-order coherence theory of vector electromagnetic fields
7. Some applications of second-order coherence theory
8. Higher-order correlations in optical fields
9. Semiclassical theory of photoelectric detection of light
10. Quantization of the free electromagnetic field
11. Coherent states of the electromagnetic field
12. Quantum correlations and photon statistics
13. Radiation from thermal equilibrium sources
14. Quantum theory of photoelectric detection of light
15. Interaction between light and a two-level atom
16. Collective atomic interactions
17. Some general techniques for treating interacting systems
18. The single-mode laser
19. The two-mode ring laser
20. The linnear light amplifier
21. Squeezed states of light
22. Some quantum effects in nonlinear optics
References
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Optical physics [PHJ]