This century has seen the development of technologies for manipulating and controlling matter and light at the level of individual photons and atoms, a realm in which physics is fully quantum mechanical. The dominant experimental technology is the laser, and the theoretical paradigm is quantum optics. The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light is a trilogy, which presents the quantum optics way of thinking and its applications to quantum devices. This book — Foundations of Quantum Optics — provides an introductory text on the theoretical techniques of quantum optics, containing the elements of what one needs to teach, learn, and “think” about quantum optics. There is a particular emphasis on the classical and quantum stochastic methods which have come to dominate the field. Book II will cover applications to quantum devices, such as quantum computers and simulators, and will include the more advanced techniques necessary to describe non-classical light fields. Book III will cover the field of ultra-cold atoms, for which the quantum-optical paradigm has proved to be highly applicable for quantitative work. For more information, please visit: http://europe.worldscientific.com/quantum-world-of-ultra-cold-atoms-and-light.html

"This century has seen the development of technologies for manipulating and controlling matter and light at the level of individual photons and atoms, a realm in which physics is fully quantum-mechanical. The dominant experimental technology is the laser, and the theoretical paradigm is quantum optics. The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light is a trilogy, which presents the quantum optics way of thinking and its applications to quantum devices. This book -- "Ultra-Cold Atoms" -- provides a theoretical treatment of ultra-cold Bosons and Fermions and their interactions with electromagnetic fields in a form consistent with the first two books in the trilogy. The book covers five main areas The physics of cold collisions, binding of atoms into molecules, and Feshbach resonances, Bose-Einstein condensation, at zero temperature, and at finite temperature, Quantum kinetic theory, Ultra-cold Fermions, Atoms in optical lattices. The central concept is the quantum stochastic paradigm, formulated for cold collision physics. For Bosons, this yields a suite of techniques; versions of the stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation, using which a wide range of dynamic and thermal properties are formulated. The eBook editions of the "Quantum World Trilogy" feature an extensive system of hyperlinks for ease of cross reference within the books, as well links to the other books in the trilogy. In the section Viewing the eBooks we explain how these links work, and give some advice on appropriate pdf viewer applications. For more information, please visit: http://europe.worldscientific.com/quantum-world-of-ultra-cold-atoms-and-light.html"

"This century has seen the development of technologies for manipulating and controlling matter and light at the level of individual photons and atoms, a realm in which physics is fully quantum-mechanical. The dominant experimental technology is the laser, and the theoretical paradigm is quantum optics. The Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms and Light is a trilogy, which presents the quantum optics way of thinking and its applications to quantum devices. This book -- "Ultra-Cold Atoms" -- provides a theoretical treatment of ultra-cold Bosons and Fermions and their interactions with electromagnetic fields in a form consistent with the first two books in the trilogy. The central concept is the quantum stochastic paradigm, formulated for cold collision physics. For Bosons, this yields a suite of techniques; versions of the stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation, using which a wide range of dynamic and thermal properties are formulated."--Publisher's website.

This volume provides a broad overview of the principal theoretical techniques applied to non-equilibrium and finite temperature quantum gases. Covering Bose-Einstein condensates, degenerate Fermi gases, and the more recently realised exciton-polariton condensates, it fills a gap by linking between different methods with origins in condensed matter physics, quantum field theory, quantum optics, atomic physics, and statistical mechanics.

As part of the Physics 2010 decadal survey project, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation requested that the National Research Council assess the opportunities, over roughly the next decade, in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) science and technology. In particular, the National Research Council was asked to cover the state of AMO science, emphasizing recent accomplishments and identifying new and compelling scientific questions. Controlling the Quantum World, discusses both the roles and challenges for AMO science in instrumentation; scientific research near absolute zero; development of extremely intense x-ray and laser sources; exploration and control of molecular processes; photonics at the nanoscale level; and development of quantum information technology. This book also offers an assessment of and recommendations about critical issues concerning maintaining U.S. leadership in AMO science and technology.