The field of quantum optics has witnessed significant theoretical and experimental developments in recent years. This book provides an in-depth and wide-ranging introduction to the subject, emphasizing throughout the basic principles and their applications.

The book begins by developing the basic tools of quantum optics, and goes on to show the application of these tools in a variety of quantum optical systems, including lasing without inversion, squeezed states and atom optics. The final four chapters are devoted to a discussion of quantum optical tests of the foundations of quantum mechanics, and to particular aspects of measurement theory.

Preface

1. Quantum theory of radiation

2. Coherent and squeezed states of the radiation field

3. Incoherent states of the radiation field

4. Field-field and photon-photon correlation interferometry

5. Atom-field interaction - semiclassical theory

6. Atom-field interaction - quantum theory

7. Lasing without inversion and other effects of atomic coherence and interference

8. Quantum theory of damping - density operator and wave function approach

9. Quantum theory of damping - Heisenberg-Langevin approach

10. Resonance fluorescence

11. Quantum theory of laser - density operator approach

12. Quantum theory of laser - Heisenberg-Langevin approach

13. Theory of the micromaser

14. Correlated emission laser: concept, theory and analysis

15. Phase sensitivity in quantum optical systems: applications

16. Squeezing via non-linear optical processes

17. Atom optics

18. The EPR paradox, hidden variables and Bell Theorem

19. Quantum nodemolition measurements

20. Quantum optical tests of complementarity

21. Two-photon interferometry,the quantum measurement problem,and more

Index