Quantum Physics of Light and Matter - Matter-Radiation Interaction

Constantinos Simserides

The subject of this book is based on the compulsory course "Quantum Optics and Lasers" of the Department of "Solid State Physics" of the Faculty of Physics of the Natural Sciences School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. 1. Introduction to the quantum nature of light. 2. Mechanisms of interaction of electromagnetic (EM) radiation and matter (two-level system). 3. Semiclassical approach of the interaction of EM radiation and matter. EM field: classically. Two-level system e.g. atom: quantum mechanically. 4. Quantum mechanical approach of the interaction of EM radiation and matter. EM field quantization. 5. Lasers. 6. Density matrix. 7. Some other issues for the properties and the operation of Lasers.

Luca Salasnich

Luca Salasnich

Jean Dalibard

Light and matter are very closely linked in our modelling of the physical world. From the formulation of quantum theory to the invention of laser, the interaction between atoms and radiation has played a crucial role in the development of today’s science and technology. By controlling this interaction, the lowest temperatures ever recorded are now reached. Cooling atomic gases with laser light produces “quantum matter” with radically different properties from those of ordinary fluids. These cold atoms are the cornerstone of a new metrology of time and space, with applications in a wide variety of fields, including navigation, telecommunication and geophysics.

Ajoy Kumar Ghatak, S. Lokanathan

A. Y. Klimenko

This work investigates the influence of directional properties of decoherence on kinetics rate equations. The physical reality is understood as a chain of unitary and decoherence events. The former are quantum-deterministic, while the latter introduce uncertainty and increase entropy. For interactions of matter and antimatter, two approaches are considered: symmetric decoherence, which corresponds to conventional symmetric (CP-invariant) thermodynamics, and antisymmetric decoherence, which corresponds to antisymmetric (CPT-invariant) thermodynamics. Radiation, in its interactions with matter and antimatter, is shown to be decoherence-neutral. The symmetric and antisymmetric assumptions result in different interactions of radiation with matter and antimatter. The theoretical predictions for these differences are testable by comparing absorption (emission) of light by thermodynamic systems made of matter and antimatter. Canonical typicality for quantum mixtures is briefly discussed in Appendix A.