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.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction and background

1. Introduction

2. Classical optics

3. Quantum mechanics

4. Radiative transitions in atoms

II. Photons

5. Photon statistics

6. Photon antibunching

7. Coherent states and squeezed light

8. Photon number states

III. Atom–photon interactions

9. Resonant light–atom interactions

10. Atoms in cavities

11. Cold atoms

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

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

Book Description

Quantum Optics: An Introduction is a modern textbook written primarily for advanced undergraduate and masters level students in physics.

About the Author

Dr A M Fox is Reader in Physics, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK.