Book-Review - the Quantum Theory of Light - ED.2

Robert J. Resnick, David Halliday, Derek Jeffrey Raine

Richard M. Sillitto

Stephen Mark Barnett, John Jeffers

We present a brief introduction to the quantum theory of light as it is understood in the field of quantum optics. Our aim is not to review the topic, which would require a very extensive article (or even a book of several volumes) but rather to provide sufficient background to set the ideas in the following papers in their correct context.This article is part of the theme issue 'The quantum theory of light'.

Stig Stenholm

This book describes the use of lasers in spectroscopy, the phenomenon of optical bistability, the need for a quantum theory of light, and includes a discussion of how lasers may be used to test the basic formulation of quantum mechanics. Each review is designed to be comprehensible to non-specialists in the field, yet detailed enough to provide a useful background to the prospective specialist.

L. P. Sieg