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 nonliner 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.
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.
THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE QUANTUM THEORY OF LIGHT In August of 1995, a group of over 70 physicists met at York University for a three-day symposium in honour of Professor Jean-Pierre Vigier. The attendance included theoretical and experimental physicists, mathematicians, astronomers and colleagues concerned with issues in the philosophy of science. The symposium was entitled "The Present Status of the Quantum Theory of Light" in accordance with Professor Vigier's wishes but in fact encompassed many of the areas to which Professor Vigier has contributed over his long and distinguished career. These include stochastic interpretations of quantum mechanics, particle physics, and electromagnetic theory. The papers presented at the symposium have been arranged in this proceedings in the following approximate order: ideas about the nature of light and photons, electrodynamiCS, the formulation and interpretation of quantum mechanics, and aspects of relativity theory. Some of the papers presented deal with alternate interpretations of quantum phenomena in the tradition of Vigier, Bohm et al. These interpretations reject the account given in purely probabilistic terms and which deems individual quantum events to be acausal and not amenable to any analysis in space-time terms. As is well known, Einstein and others also rejected the purely statistical account of quantum mechanics. As stressed by Professor Vigier at the symposium, the current experimental situation now allows for the first time for individual quantum events to be studied, e. g.
To mathematicians, mathematics is a happy game, to scientists a mere tool and to philosophers a Platonic mystery - or so the caricature runs. The caricature reflects the alleged 'cultural gap' between the disciplines a gap for which there too often has been, sadly, sound historical evidence. In many minds the lack of communication between philosophy and the exact disciplines is especially prominent. Yet in the past there was no separation - exact knowledge, covering both scientists and mathemati cians, was known as natural philosophy and the business of providing a critical view of the nature of reality and an accurate mathematical de scription of it constituted a single task from the glorious tradition begun by the early Greek philosophers even up until Newton's day (but I am thinking of Descartes and Leibniz I). The lack of communication between these professional groups has been particularly unfortunate, for the past half century has seen the most ex citing developments in mathematical physics since Newton. These devel opments hinged on the introduction of vast new reaches of mathematics into physics (non-Euclidean geometries, covariant formulations, non commutative algebras, functional analysis and so on) and conversely have challenged mathematicians to develop the appropriate mathematical fields. Equally, these developments have posed profound philosophical problems to do with the rejection of traditional conceptions concerning the nature of physical reality and physical theorising.
The first comprehensive treatment of quantum physics in any language, this classic introduction to the basic theory remains highly recommended and in wide use, both as a text and as a reference. A unified and accurate guide to the application of radiative processes, it explores the mathematics and physics of quantum theory. 1954 edition.
In the fourty-six years that have gone by since the first volume of Progress in Optics was published, optics has become one of the most dynamic fields of science. The volumes in this series which have appeared up to now contain nearly 300 review articles by distinguished research workers, which have become permanent records for many important developments. Historical Overview Attosecond Laser Pulses History of Conical Refraction Particle Concept of Light Field Quantization in Optics History of Near-Field Optics History of Tunneling Influence of Young's Interference Experiment on Development of Statistical optics Planck, Photon Statistics and Bose-Einstein Condensation
Quantum Mechanics theory is an accepted field of particle physics. The quantum of energy involved in this theory is in fact commonly known as a photon and one of the major advances produced in the field is the measurement of the photon energy relative to its function. For example the range of energies of photons participating in an FM radio transmission has been established by test. It is a particularly useful field of physics in that it has provided information on phenomena of common interest such as light, heat and communication. However development of the theory, which originated at the beginning of the last century, has been constrained by disagreement within the field over the properties of the photon, whether it has mass or not, and by the conflict resulting from treating the photon as both a wave and a particle. Dissatisfied with the lack of explanations presented the author removed the constraints and developed a theory which moves beyond quantum theory to a photon electro mechanical theory. Newton's particle theory of light is adopted and modified to explain light phenomena and is then extended to describe heat and electronic communication phenomena as well. The resulting Unified Photon theory presented is broad and revolutionary. Consistent with quantum mechanics theory and experimental photon data it models the photon as a discrete particle with mass, similar to the electron, but with no wave properties. Applying UP theory produces compelling explanations that imply that all three classes of phenomena can be explained in term of electro mechanical actions of photon particles, and those effects attributed to wave properties of photons result instead from forces acting on the photons. The book is readily understood and provides a multitude of explanations not available elsewhere. It is directed primarily toward the general scientific reader, to those curious about the happenings occurring all around them. UP theory may prove helpful as well to physicists conducting experimental and applied physics, those for example making unbelievable strides in electronic (radio) communication, UP theory may serve as a guide for academic physicists teaching theoretical particle physics who have maintained a strict allegiance to the theory of Albert Einstein, in particular his mass-less photon
A century of extraordinary physics, explained in three fabulously readable books. How did theory, experiment, personalities, politics, and chance combine in the development of quantum theory, and the discovery of the Higgs Boson - the so-called God Particle?
