Mathematical Methods of Quantum Optics (Springer Series in Optical Sciences, 79)

This book is intended to provide a much needed systematic exposition of the mathematical methods of quantum optics, something that is not found in existing books. It is primarily addressed to researchers who are new to the field. The emphasis, therefore, is on a simple and self-contained, yet concise, presentation. It provides a unified view of the concepts and the methods of quantum optics and aims to prepare a reader to handle specific situations. A number of formulae scattered throughout the scientific literature are also brought together in a natural manner. The broad plan of the book is to introduce first the basic physics and mathematical concepts, then to apply them to construct the model hamilto­ nians of the atom-field interaction and the master equation for an atom-field system interacting with the environment, and to analyze the equations so obtained. A brief description of the contents of the chapters is as follows.

This book provides an accessible introduction to the mathematical methods of quantum optics. Starting from first principles, it reveals how a given system of atoms and a field is mathematically modelled. The method of eigenfunction expansion and the Lie algebraic method for solving equations are outlined. Analytically exactly solvable classes of equations are identified. The text also discusses consequences of Lie algebraic properties of Hamiltonians, such as the classification of their states as coherent, classical or non-classical based on the generalized uncertainty relation and the concept of quasiprobability distributions. A unified approach is developed for determining the dynamics of a two-level and a three-level atom interacting with combinations of quantized fields under certain conditions. Simple methods for solving a variety of linear and nonlinear dissipative master equations are given. The book will be valuable to newcomers to the field and to experimentalists in quantum optics.