What are some good modern Quantum Optics textbooks?

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SUMMARY

Modern Quantum Optics textbooks recommended in the discussion include "Quantum Optics" by M. O. Scully and M. S. Zubairy (1997) and "Quantum Optics" by J. Garrison and R. Chiao (2008). Participants emphasize the importance of staying updated with recent research papers to grasp advancements in the field. Other notable mentions are "Elements of Quantum Optics" by Meystre & Sargent, "Fundamentals of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information" by Lambropoulos & Petrosyan, and "Quantum Optics" by Walls & Milburn. The discussion highlights the practical insights provided by these texts, particularly in areas like second quantization of the electric field.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Quantum Field Theory (QFT)
  • Familiarity with General Relativity concepts
  • Knowledge of Quantum Information Theory
  • Basic principles of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research recent Quantum Optics research papers to stay updated with advancements
  • Explore "Elements of Quantum Optics" by Meystre & Sargent for foundational concepts
  • Study "Fundamentals of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information" by Lambropoulos & Petrosyan for insights into quantum information
  • Investigate the second quantization of the electric field in "Quantum Optics" by Walls & Milburn
USEFUL FOR

Students, researchers, and educators in the fields of Quantum Optics, Quantum Field Theory, and related disciplines seeking to enhance their understanding of modern quantum optics literature.

LittleSchwinger
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What would people here say are good modern Quantum Optics textbooks?
 
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What does "modern" mean here?
 
I guess in the last ten years or so. I know there have been many advancements in the field recently.
 
LittleSchwinger said:
I know there have been many advancements in the field recently.
What is your background in this field?
 
malawi_glenn said:
What is your background in this field?
I lecture QFT in curved spacetime, General Relativity and Quantum Information. It's just been years since I read specific details about quantum optics. This is partially to recommend to students as well.
 
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I'm myself not an expert in quantum optics. I'm a theorist working on theoretical heavy-ion collisions, using relativistic many-body QFT in and out of equilibrium, transport theory, Fokker-Planck/Langevin description. I'm, however, also pretty fascinated by AMO physics, particularly about the solid science part concerning "quantum foundations", i.e., I'm trying to stay away from philosophy and look at the many experiments showing that there's just QT in the minimal statistical interpretation :-)).

That said, I like two quantum-optics book as my standard references:

M. O. Scully and M. S. Zubairy, Quantum Optics, Cambridge
University Press (1997).

J. Garrison and R. Chiao, Quantum optics, Oxford University
Press, New York (2008),
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198508861.001.0001

To stay "modern" in this field, I guess one has to read research papers rather than textbooks :-).
 
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Thanks! They look lovely.
 
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I have these on my "virtual bookshelf":

Elements of Quantum Optics, Meystre & Sargent

Fundamentals of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Lambropoulos & Petrosyan

Quantum Optics, Walls & Milburn
 
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The only book I have on this topic is the introduction book by Fox (Oxford) which is pretty old, I think 2006?
 
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vanhees71 said:
J. Garrison and R. Chiao, Quantum optics, Oxford University
OMG this book is so eye opening 0o0, and practical!

P.S. it discusses second quantization of the electric field, waves more deeply compared to many other books, for instance, paraxial quantum optics!

P.S.S. I'm only writing this out of excitement, because I've found what I've been looking for (at a glance), but whether this book really satisfies anyone's purpose, that'll require more thorough reading.
 
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  • #12
vanhees71 said:
J. Garrison and R. Chiao, Quantum optics, Oxford University
Yes, I'll have to add to @yucheng 's excitement since I picked this up on Saturday. A fantastic book thus far. I'll say more when I finish the book after doing all the exercises.
 
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