Getting Started in Quantum Optics

This book provides a self-contained one-semester undergraduate course on quantum optics, covering canonical quantization, the harmonic oscillator, vacuum fluctuations, Fock states, the single photon state, quantum optical treatment of the beam splitter and interferometer, multimode quantized light, coherent and incoherent states, and metrology. It also discusses applications of entanglement and coincidence measurements, such as ghost imaging, quantum illumination, absolute photodetector calibration, and interaction-free measurement.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2022
Publisher: Springer

This comprehensive textbook, derived from meticulously tested lecture notes, offers a one-semester undergraduate course on quantum optics. It is designed to be accessible to students (and other readers) who have a solid foundation in introductory quantum mechanics and are familiar with Dirac notation and the concept of entanglement. The book delves into various topics, including canonical quantization, the harmonic oscillator, vacuum fluctuations, Fock states, the single photon state, quantum optical manipulation of beam splitters and interferometers, multimode quantized light, and coherent and incoherent states. A significant emphasis is placed on metrology, with the text culminating in a detailed exploration of squeezed light and its application in the laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (LIGO). The Heisenberg limit is discussed, along with NOON states and their remarkable applications in super-sensitivity, super-resolution, and quantum lithography. The book also describes practical applications of entanglement and coincidence measurements, such as ghost imaging, quantum illumination, absolute photodetector calibration, and interaction-free measurement. As quantum optics assumes a pivotal role in the so-called "second quantum revolution," this textbook, supplemented with ample exercises and illustrative examples, equips students with the necessary skills to pursue graduate studies or embark on careers in the field.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 154 x 232 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031124341