Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Statistical Methods in Quantum Optics 1

Master Equations and Fokker-Planck Equations

  • Textbook
  • © 1999

Overview

Authors:
  1. Howard J. Carmichael

    1. Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • First volume of a two-volume treatise on current research problems in quantum optics at an advanced graduate level
  • It should become a standard text for many years to come
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Theoretical and Mathematical Physics (TMP)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XXIII
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Dissipation in Quantum Mechanics: The Master Equation Approach

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 1-28

  3. Two-Level Atoms and Spontaneous Emission

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 29-74

  4. Quantum—Classical Correspondence for the Electromagnetic Field I: The Glauber—Sudarshan P Representation

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 75-99

  5. Quantum—Classical Correspondence for the Electromagnetic Field II: P, Q, and Wigner Representations

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 101-145

  6. Fokker—Planck Equations and Stochastic Differential Equations

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 147-193

  7. Quantum—Classical Correspondence for Two-Level Atoms

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 195-255

  8. The Single-Mode Homogeneously Broadened Laser I: Preliminaries

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 257-304

  9. The Single-Mode Homogeneously Broadened Laser II: Phase-Space Analysis

    • Howard J. Carmichael
    Pages 305-348

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 349-368
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

As a graduate student working in quantum optics I encountered the question that might be taken as the theme of this book. The question definitely arose at that time though it was not yet very clearly defined; there was simply some deep irritation caused by the work I was doing, something quite fundamental I did not understand. Of course, so many things are not understood when one is a graduate student. However, my nagging question was not a technical issue, not merely a mathematical concept that was difficult to grasp. It was a sense that certain elementary notions that are accepted as starting points for work in quantum optics somehow had no fundamental foundation, no identifiable root. My inclination was to mine physics vertically, and here was a subject whose tunnels were dug horizontally. There were branches, certainly, going up and going down. Nonetheless, something major in the downwards direction was missing-at least in my understanding; no doubt others understood the connections downwards very well. In retrospect I can identify the irritation. Quantum optics deals primarily with dynamics, quantum dynamics, and in doing so makes extensive use of words like "quantum fluctuations" and "quantum noise. " The words seem harmless enough. Surely the ideas behind them are quite clear; after all, quantum mechanics is a statistical theory, and in its dynamical aspects it is therefore a theory of fluctuations. But there was my problem. Nothing in Schrodinger's equation fluctuates.

Reviews

From the reviews
"To sum up: Statistical Methods in Quantum Optics 1 is an excellent book. Try it, you'll like it!" (M.O. Scully, Physics Today, 2000)

"The book is carefully written, in considerable detail, paying attention to both foundations and applications. It contains exercices completing or generalizing the material presented, and ample references to the literature. It is, therefore, very useful as the basis for a course." (V.R. Vieira, Mathematical Reviews, 2000f)

PHYSICS TODAY
"…a valuable addition to the literature…an excellent book. Try it, you’ll like it!”

 "It is a pleasure to recommend this title thoroughly for both individual and institutional purchase." (D. L. Andrews (University of Anglia), Contemporary Physics 2002, vol. 43, page 232-233)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Howard J. Carmichael

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation