Università Roma Tre

The physics of laser: blackbody radiation, Einstein equation, interaction of light with a two-level atom, gain and attenuation. Optical transitions in semiconductors. CW and pulsed operation of a laser.

Optical coherence and quantisation of the e.m. field: classical theory of fluctuations, first- and second-order coherence. E.m. field as a harmonic oscillator, quantisation and quantum theory of optical coherence. Number states, coherent states, and thermal states. Interaction picture: beam splitter and squeezing hamiltonians. Homodyne detection and photon counting. Quasi-probability distributions.

Nonlinear optics: introduction and classic treatment. Notes on quantum treatment. Nonlinear second-order effects: second harmonic generation, sum frequency, and parametric fractionation. Third-order effects: optical Kerr effect. Notes on filamentation. Nonlinear Schroedinger equation and temporal solitons.

Quantum correlations: local realism problem in quantum mechanics and the EPR-Bohm paradox. Bell inequality and experimental tests with polarized photons.

R. Loudon, The quantum theory of light. Capp. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
O. Svelto, Principles of lasers. Capp. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
R. Boyd, Nonlinear optics. Capp. 1, 2, 7
J.S. Bell, Speakable and unspeakable in quantum mechanics. Cap 2