J Perina London: Van Nostrand 1972 pp 315 price £6 This book brings under one cover in a clear presentation much of a stream of work which has appeared in the literature over the last decade or so, concerned with the interrelation between classical and quantum theories of optical coherence. Only in the 11th of 18 chapters, however, is the optical field quantized so that there is at first a very extensive treatment of classical results.
J Perina London: Van Nostrand 1972 pp 315 price £6 This book brings under one cover in a clear presentation much of a stream of work which has appeared in the literature over the last decade or so, concerned with the interrelation between classical and quantum theories of optical coherence. Only in the 11th of 18 chapters, however, is the optical field quantized so that there is at first a very extensive treatment of classical results.
This is a well written book; it makes easy and pleasant reading for both experts and physicists working in other areas. The book is almost self-contained. It comprises six chapters. In the first three the author introduces the subject and deals with basic results and analytic tools from quantum optics: quantum theory of light and quasi-probability functions. In the fourth chapter he discusses the quantum-mechanical description of simple optical instruments. The last two chapters are the core of the book; they are devoted to a discussion of quantum tomography, joint measurement of position and momentum and the quantum-optical phase. The author was directly involved in the development of the field, which guarantees a fresh and clear exposition. At the same time he makes an open effort for a general (re)formulation of the subject and to present the `classic' solutions to a number of problems in the area. Overall, the presentation of quantum tomography is shaped by a personal view but it accounts sufficiently for the different approaches discussed in the literature. My only reservation is the way in which connections between classical and quantum tomography are presented. In particular, I find that an explicit statement that classical tomography (inverse Radon transform) cannot be straightforwardly applied to the quantum case should be made. The book was published in 1997. Since then the field has been growing rapidly and impetuously and the book shows its age. Nevertheless, it is still a useful reference tool for active researchers and a nice and valuable introduction for (graduate) students who are entering this area. It is worth noting that only a few books have been published on this subject; Leonhardt's volume is well written and to the point. The book is dedicated to Harry Paul, the supervisor of Leonhardt's postdoctoral thesis and the coauthor of most of his papers in the area. M G A Paris
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.
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.
This book offers a complete revision for its introduction to the quantum theory of light, including notable developments as well as improvements in presentation of basic theory and concepts, with continued emphasis on experimental aspects. The author provides a thorough overview on basic methods of classical and quantum mechanical measurements in quantum optics, enabling readers to analyze, summarize, and resolve quantum optical problems. The broad coverage of concepts and tools and its practical, experimental emphasis set it apart from other available resources. New discussions of timely topics such as the concept of the photon and distinguishability bring the entire contents up to date. Key Features: Provides a complete update of a classic textbook for the field. Features many new topics, including optical coherence, coherent and incoherent imaging, turbulence-free interferometry. Includes new chapters for intensity fluctuation correlation and thermal light ghost imaging, and biphoton imaging. Offers a complete overhaul of the introductory theory to give a more coherent and thorough treatment. Expands on discussions of optical tests of quantum theory, Popper’s experiment, Einstein’s locality questions, and the delayed choice quantum eraser.
Abstract This third edition, like its two predecessors, provides a detailed account of the basic theory needed to understand the properties of light and its interactions with atoms, in particular the many nonclassical effects that have now been observed in quantum-optical experiments. The earlier chapters describe the quantum mechanics of various optical processes, leading from the classical representation of the electromagnetic field to the quantum theory of light. The later chapters develop the theoretical descriptions of some of the key experiments in quantum optics. Over half of the material in this third edition is new. It includes topics that have come into prominence over the last two decades, such as the beamsplitter theory, squeezed light, two-photon interference, balanced homodyne detection, travelling-wave attenuation and amplification, quantum jumps, and the ranges of nonliner optical processes important in the generation of nonclassical light. The book is written as a textbook, with the treatment as a whole appropriate for graduate or postgraduate students, while earlier chapters are also suitable for final- year undergraduates. Over 100 problems help to intensify the understanding of the material presented.