Physics 566 Fall 2025

Quantum Optics

University of New Mexico

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Instructor: Prof. Ivan H. Deutsch

Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday 12:30-1:45pm, PAIS Room 1140

Problem Session: Friday 2:00-300pm, PAIS Room 1140

TA Office Hours: TBD

Quantum optics is a broad and varied subject that deals with the study, control, and manipulation of quantum coherence associated with electromagnetic fields. This includes the basic interaction of photons and matter and the nonclassical nature of the electromagnetic field itself.  Quantum optics is the natural arena for experimental tests of the foundations of quantum mechanics and measurement, especially in the context of open, nonequilibrium quantum systems. The theoretical and experimental tools of quantum optics have helped to ignite the "second quantum revolution" and the development of Quantum Information Science (QIS), with applications in quantum computation and communication.

- Quantum and classical coherence
- Atom-photon coupling and atomic coherence
- The quantum electromagnetic vacuum
- Nonclassical light and photon statistics
- Quantum optical particles and waves (discrete and continuous variables)
- Foundations of entanglement and quantum maps
- Open quantum systems and decoherence
- Quantum trajectories and continuous measurement
- Fundamental paradigms in quantum optics (cavity QED, ion and neutral atom traps, entangled light)
- Applications in quantum information science (quantum communication, computation, metrology)

On this page:

• Map of Quantum Optics
• General Information
• Syllabus
• Lecture Schedule and Notes and Podcasts
• Problem Sets

General Information

"Recommended" Texts (none required):

* Atom-Photon interactions- Cohen-Tannoudji,

* Quantum Optics - Scully and Zubairy,

* The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light: Book 1: Foundations of Quantum Optics - Gardiner and Zoller.

* Introduction to Quantum Optics - Grynberg Aspect, and Fabre,

* Exploring the Quantum: Atoms, Cavities, and Photons - Haroche and Raimond.

We will not be following any of these texts directly . They all have strengths in different areas and are good to have on your bookshelf.

Other Standard  Texts:

• Quantum Optics by  Walls and Milburn

Additional Resources

* Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics, by L. Mandel and E. Wolf

* Quantum Statistical Properties of Radiation, by W. H. Louisell

Grading:

* Problem Sets (10 assignments) 80%

* Final Project 20%

* Problem sets will be available on the web, about every week. Generally assignments will be due Thursday, 5:00pm, in the TA's maiilbox.

Syllabus

Phys. 566: Quantum Optics I

I. Quantum foundations

            A. Density matrix and coherence.

            B. Two level systems -- Qubits, Pauli algebra, Bloch-sphere, magnetic resonance.

            C. Quantum simple harmonic oscillator.

 

II. Optical resonance for two level atoms

            A. Atom-photon interaction in electric dipole approximation.

            B. Pseudo-spin formulation, Rabi flopping.

            C. Density matrix formulation.

            D. Phenomenological damping -- master equation and rate equations.

 

III. The electromagnetic vacuum

            A. Quantization of the electromagnetic field.

            B. Spontaneous emission and Wigner-Weisskopf theory.

            C. Jaynes-Cummings model -- Dressed states, Cavity QED.

 

VI. Three level quantum coherence

            A. Raman resonance.

            B. Dark states and EIT.



V. Quantum-Optical Coherence and Nonclassical Light

            A. Photon counting statistics and classical statistical optics

            B. Coherent states as quasi-classical states.

            C. Glauber's correlation functions.

            D. Bunching, antibunching, and photon statistics.

            E. Squeezed states of light.
   

Problem Sets