Quantum Optics, An Introduction

IntroductionElements of quantum electrodynamicsQuantum states of bosonic systemsPhase-space representationsQuantum theory of dampingPhotoelectric detection of lightQuantum-state reconstructionNonclassicality and entanglement of bosonic systemsLeaky optical cavitiesMedium-assisted electromagnetic vacuum effectsResonance fluorescenceA single atom in a high-Q cavityLaser-driven quantized motion of a trapped atom

Werner Vogel studied physics at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, where he received his PhD in 1980 and worked as a research assistent at the Physics Department. After three postdoc years at the University of St. Petersburg, he finished his habilitation thesis in Jena and became Lecturer for Theoretical Physics at the College of Education in Güstrow in 1989. Since 1992, he has been Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Rostock. Dirk-Gunnar Welsch studied physics at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena. After receiving his PhD in 1972, he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. From 1974 to 1994 he was a scientific assistent and later senior scientific assistent at the Physics Department of the University of Jena, where he finished his habilitation thesis in 1980. He has been Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Jena since 1994.

"Erfasst sowohl die Grundlagen der Quantenoptik als auch die spezielleren Aspekte, die momentan Gegenstand weltweiter Forschung sind - Ich empfehle das Buch jedem, der eine ausgewogene Darstellung der theoretischen Quantenoptik sucht."Optics & Photonics News"... ein Buch, das jeder, der auf dem Gebiet der Quantenoptik arbeitet in seinem Buecherregal haben sollte, da es sehr gründlich die Grundlagen der Quantenoptik beschreibt. Es gibt eine Unmenge an Quantenoptikbüchern, die sich auf einfache Themen beschränken und die Grundlagen der Feldquantisierung eher als notwendiges Uebel betrachten als diese in einen größeren Zusammenhang zu stellen. Das Buch hört auch nicht da auf, wo die Sache schwierig wird, wie etwa bei der Quantisierung in Dielektrika. Es bietet auch die Grundlagen, die die Theorie für echte Quantenexperimente beschreibt, die eben nicht einfache Ein-Moden-Situationen sind. (...)Nach wie vor empfehle ich das Buch allen Studenten, die auf dem Gebiet der Quantenoptik ernsthaft arbeiten wollen, als eine Investition, die auf Jahre hinaus nützlich sein wird."Prof. Norbert Lütkenhaus, University of Waterloo, Canada

"There are many good books in this area, but this one really excels in terms of broad coverage, choice of topics, and precision. It is very useful as a textbook for a quantum optics course, and also as a general reference for researchers in quantum optics. ... Also, the new edition includes some subtle and fundamental material about non-classicality, medium-assisted electromagnetic vacuum effects, and leaky cavities, based on research developed by the authors."Prof. L. Davidovich, University of Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia"The third edition of 'Quantum Optics' by Werner Vogel and Dirk-Gunnar Welsch goes from strength to strength. It is an excellent account of modern theoretical quantum optics, emphasising its roots as a nonrelativistic field theory."Dr. Stefan Scheel, Imperial College London, UK"... excellent coverage of the theoretical foundations of quantum optics and of very new topics which we do not find in more traditional books on quantum optics. (...) I believe that every researcher in quantum optics must have a copy of this as the book is quite up-to-date.Prof. G. S. Agarwal, Oklahoma State University, USA"The book is a successful blend of basic theory and advanced topics ... It is my first choice when recommending a reading material to students and collegagues who are interested in quantum optics."Prof. Trung Dung Ho, University of Hanoi, Vietnam