Synopses & Reviews
Most previous texts on quantum optics have been written primarily for the graduate student market at PhD level and above. Quantum optics: an introduction aims to introduce a wide range of topics at a lower level suitable for advanced undergraduate and masters level students in physics. The text is divided into four main parts, covering modern topics in both pure and applied quantum optics: I Introduction and background material. II. Photons. III. Atom-photon interactions. IV. Quantum information processing. The emphasis of the subject development is on intuitive physical understanding rather than mathematical arguments, although many derivations are included where appropriate. The text includes numerous illustrations, with a particular emphasis on the experimental observations of quantum optical phenomena. Each chapter includes worked examples, together with 10-15 exercises with solutions. Six appendices are included to supplement the main subject material.
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Review
"I do not know a comparable quantum optics textbook aimed at undergraduates."--Physics Today
"... very well written ... a modern introduction to quantum optics and its applications."--Vlatko Vedral, University of Leeds
"... the writing is very good and readable. There is a good balance between description and mathematics. I also appreciate a text written by an experimentalist on this topic. It is good to have the experimental intricacies mentioned. And the worked examples are well done."--Steven Cundiff, JILA, University of Colorado
"... excellent for an introductory course in quantum optics."--Klaus Moelmer, Aarhus University, Denmark
"...a genuinely interesting experiment in undergraduate education could be put together on the basis of Fox's textbook." Physics Today
About the Author
Dr A M Fox is Reader in Physics, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK.
Table of Contents
Part I: Introduction and background
1. Introduction
2. Classical optics
3. Quantum mechanics
4. Radiative transitions in atoms
Part II: Photons
5. Photon statistics
6. Photon antibunching
7. Coherent states and squeezed light
8. Photon number states
Part III: Atom--photon interactions
9. Resonant light--atom interactions
10. Atoms in cavities
11. Cold atoms
Part IV: Quantum information processing
12. Quantum cryptography
13. Quantum computing
14. Entangled states and quantum teleportation
Appendices
A. Poisson statistics
B. Parametric amplification
C. The density of states
D. Low dimensional semiconductor structures
E. Nuclear magnetic resonance
F. Bose--Einstein condensation