Quantum-Mechanical Fundamentals of Lasers

Stig Stenholm

Amnon Yariv

The spectral linewidth, or equivalently, the temporal coherence, of all lasers is fundamentally limited by quantum mechanics specifically by the quantum nature of light. This limit is, however, largely dependent on the electromagnetic configuration of the laser and the atomic nature of the laser transition.

Halina Abramczyk

Clemens Schäfermeier, Hugo Kerdoncuff, Ulrich B. Hoff +7 more

Laser cooling is a fundamental technique used in primary atomic frequency standards, quantum computers, quantum condensed matter physics and tests of fundamental physics, among other areas. It has been known since the early 1990s that laser cooling can, in principle, be improved by using squeezed light as an electromagnetic reservoir; while quantum feedback control using a squeezed light probe is also predicted to allow improved cooling. Here we show the implementation of quantum feedback control of a micro-mechanical oscillator using squeezed probe light. This allows quantum-enhanced feedback cooling with a measurement rate greater than it is possible with classical light, and a consequent reduction in the final oscillator temperature. Our results have significance for future applications in areas ranging from quantum information networks, to quantum-enhanced force and displacement measurements and fundamental tests of macroscopic quantum mechanics.

Michael S. Feld, John E. Thomas, Aram Mooradian

This book covers subjects under the following headings: New cooling mechanisms; Laser spectroscopy; Cavity Qed; Noise and coherence; Quantum size effects; Surface spectroscopy; Laser light sources; Trapped ion spectroscopy; and Fundamental measurements.

Pierre Meystre, Murray Sargent