This book is a self-contained guide to the world of quantum optical processes which addresses different aspects relevant in quantum optics and quantum information. The basic descriptions, measurement techniques, possible sources, nonclassical features, practical implications and applications of the quantization of light and its interaction with matter, are explored. The observed quantum properties such as coherent superposition, entanglement, nonlocality, decoherence and no-cloning, are discussed. The quantum optical processes such as continuous variable entanglement swapping, teleportation and telecloning from which follow the practical aspects such as quantum gate operations, cryptography and error correction are considered. In turn, the advantages and inherent challenges including the foresight in implementing continuous variable quantum communication and computation protocols are highlighted. The author gives a concise background with corresponding applications, the necessary mathematical derivation, simplified examples, illustrations and demonstrations, and the relative interpretations and outlooks. This book is intended to serve a multi-disciplinary readership, namely the atomic physics and quantum optics communities who seek to extend their research to applications, especially, to the field of quantum information processing as well as the theoretical quantum information community who builds up research on physically realizable systems such as optical setups and various atomic schemes. The content of this book also attracts other communities such as photonics who seeks to link research with continuous variable quantum information processing.

Starting from first principles, this reference treats the theoretical aspects of quantum optics. It develops a unified approach for determining the dynamics of a two-level and three-level atom in combinations of quantized field under certain conditions.

This work presents the mathematical methods widely used by workers in the field of quantum optics. It deals with the physical assumptions which lead to the models and approximations employed, but the main purpose of the text is to give a firm grounding in those techniques needed to derive analytical solutions to problems.

Quantum information processing offers fundamental improvements over classical information processing, such as computing power, secure communication, and high-precision measurements. However, the best way to create practical devices is not yet known. This textbook describes the techniques that are likely to be used in implementing optical quantum information processors. After developing the fundamental concepts in quantum optics and quantum information theory, the book shows how optical systems can be used to build quantum computers according to the most recent ideas. It discusses implementations based on single photons and linear optics, optically controlled atoms and solid-state systems, atomic ensembles, and optical continuous variables. This book is ideal for graduate students beginning research in optical quantum information processing. It presents the most important techniques of the field using worked examples and over 120 exercises.

Quantum Optics VI documents the most recent theoretical and experimental developments in this field, with particular emphasis on atomic optics and interferometry, which is a new and rapidly developing area of research. New methods for quantum-noise reduction are also covered.

In last years increasing attention has been again devoted to interpretations of quantum theory. In the same time interesting quantum optical experiments have been performed using nonlinear optical processes, in particular frequency down conversion, which provided new information about nature of a photon on the basis of interference and correlation (coincidence) phenomena. Such single-photon and twin-photon effects of quantum optics provide new point of view of interpretations of quantum theory and new tests of its principles. The purpose of this book is to discuss these questions. To follow this goal we give brief reviews of principles of quantum theory and of quantum theory of measurement. As a fundamental theoretical tool the coherent state technique is adopted based on a general algebraic treatment, including the de scription of interaction of radiation and matter. Typical quantum behaviour of physical systems is exhibited by nonclassical optical phenomena, which can be examined using photon interferences and correlations. These phenomena are closely related to violation of various classical inequalities and Bell's in equalities. The most important part of this book discusses quantum optical experiments supporting quantum theory. This book may be considered as a continuation of previous monographs by one of the authors on Coherence of Light (Van Nostrand Reinhold, London 1972, second edition D. Reidel, Dordrecht 1985) and on Quantum Statistics of Linear and Nonlinear Optical Phenomena (D. Reidel, Dordrecht 1984, second edition Kluwer, Dordrecht 1991), which may serve as a preparation for reading this book.

An in-depth and wide-ranging introduction to the field of quantum optics.

This volume is composed of papers (invited and contributed) presented at the International Conference on Coherence and Quantum Optics held at the University of Hyderabad January 5-January 10, 1991. It has been organized by Professor Girish Agarwal and his colleagues at the School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyder abad, India under partial support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy and the National Science Foundation, USA. Without the untiring efforts of Prof. Girish Agarwal and the members of his quantum office group, the Conference and the present volume would not have been possible. Some extraordinary circumstances resulted in a delay of the publication of the present volume. Our sincere apologies to all the authors. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused due to the delay. A debt of gratitude is due to Ms. Kim Bella for the excellent typing job of the different versions and the final version of the manuscript. It is a pleasure to acknowl edge the efforts of Ms. Pat Vann, Mr. Greg Safford and Mr. Eric Katz of the Plenum Publishing, without whose interest and persistence this volume would not have been possible. v CONTENTS QUANTUM OPTICS: THEORY The Quantum Mechanics of Particles in Time-Dependent Quadrupole Fields Roy J. Glauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Localization of Photons in Random and Quasiperiodic Media S. Dutta Gupta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Enhanced Fundamental Linewidth of a Laser Due to Outcoupling W. A. Hamel, M. P. van Exter, and J. P. Woerdman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This book presents the basics and applications of superconducting devices in quantum optics. Over the past decade, superconducting devices have risen to prominence in the arena of quantum optics and quantum information processing. Superconducting detectors provide unparalleled performance for the detection of infrared photons in quantum cryptography, enable fundamental advances in quantum optics, and provide a direct route to on-chip optical quantum information processing. Superconducting circuits based on Josephson junctions provide a blueprint for scalable quantum information processing as well as opening up a new regime for quantum optics at microwave wavelengths. The new field of quantum acoustics allows the state of a superconducting qubit to be transmitted as a phonon excitation. This volume, edited by two leading researchers, provides a timely compilation of contributions from top groups worldwide across this dynamic field, anticipating future advances in this domain.