Quantum Optics

The course provides a basis for the quantum description of optics, lasers, and coherent optical processes. The covered topics include: the quantum nature of light, the notion of a photon, photon detection processes, coherent and squeezed states of the radiation field, lasers and nonlinear optics. Furthermore, we describe experimental techniques in quantum optics such as single-frequency lasers and single-photon sources, photon counters, squeezed state generators, and discuss future realizations of quantum computing, teleportation, and cryptography.

After having passed the course the student is expected to: - have an overview of the field of quantum optics - be able to formulate and treat mathematical descriptions of basic quantum optical phenomena in terms of the quantized electro-magnetic field - be able to formulate and treat mathematical descriptions of quantum optical coherence and incoherence as well as open quantum system dynamics - be able to understand how some modern experiments in quantum optics are carried  out in particular with regard to photon detection processes, and computing, cryptography and  teleportation in the framework of quantum mechanics.

Lectures and compulsory exercises. Expected work load in the course is 225 hours.