Quantum Theory of Light 3rd Revised edition

A detailed account of the basic theory needed to understand the quantum properties of light, bridging the gap between standard quantum mechanics, electromagnetic theory, and statistical mechanics as taught at the undergraduate level and the theory needed to explain experiments in quantum optics. Much of the material is based on lecture courses taught by the author (electronic systems engineering, U. of Essex) to final-year undergraduates, first-year graduate students, and more advanced postgraduates and research workers. This latest edition provides treatments of the theory that include some shortcuts and omit more advanced derivations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This Third Edition, like its two predecessors, provides a detailed account of the basic theory needed to understand the properties of light and its interactions with atoms, in particular the many nonclassical effects that have now been observed in quantum-optical experiments. The earlier chapters describe the quantum mechanics of various optical processes, leading from the classical representation of the electromagnetic field to the quantum theory of light. The later chapters develop the theoretical descriptions of some of the key experiments in quantum optics. Over half of the material in this Third Edition is new. It includes topics that have come into prominence over the last two decades, such as the beamsplitter theory, squeezed light, two-photon interference, balanced homodyne detection, travelling-wave attenuation and amplification, quantum jumps, and the ranges of nonlinear optical processes important in the generation of nonclassical light. The book is written as a textbook, with the treatment as a whole appropriate for graduate or postgraduate students, while earlier chapters are also suitable for final-year undergraduates. Over 100 problems help to intensify the understanding of the material presented.