Quantum Interference and Coherence: Theory and Experiments (Springer Series in Optical Sciences (100))

"For the first time, this book assembles in a single volume accounts of many phenomena involving quantum interference in optical fields and atomic systems. It provides detailed theoretical treatments and experimental analyses of such phenomena as quantum erasure, quantum lithography, multi-atom entanglement, quantum beats, control of decoherence, phase control of quantum interference, coherent population trapping, electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption, lasing without inversion, subluminal and superluminal light propagation, storage of photons, quantum interference in phase space, interference and diffraction of cold atoms, and interference between Bose-Einstein condensates. This book fills a gap in the literature and will be useful to both experimentalists and theoreticians."--Jacket The ?eld that encompasses the term “quantum interference” combines a number of separate concepts, and has a variety of manifestations in d- ferent areas of physics. In the sense considered here, quantum interference is concerned with coherence and correlation phenomena in radiation ?elds and between their sources. It is intimately connected with the phenomenon of non-separability (or entanglement) in quantum mechanics. On account of this, it is obvious that quantum interference may be regarded as a com- nent of quantum information theory, which investigates the ability of the electromagnetic ?eld to transfer information between correlated (entangled) systems. Since it is important to transfer information with the minimum of corruption, the theory of quantum interference is naturally related to the theory of quantum ?uctuations and decoherence. Since the early days of quantum mechanics, interference has been - scribed as the real quantum mystery. Feynman, in his famous introduction to the lectures on the single particle superposition principle, referred in the following way to the phenomenon of interference: “it has in it the heart of quantum mechanics”, and it is really ‘the only mystery’ of quantum mech- ics. With the development of experimental techniques, it has been possible to carry out many of the early Gedanken experiments that played an important role in developing our understanding of the fundamentals of quantum int- ference and entanglement. Despite its long history, quantum interference still challenges our understanding, and continues to excite our imagination. The Contributors To This Text Present Detailed Theoretical Treatments And Experimental Analyses Of Such Phenomena As Quantum Erasure, Quantum Lithography, Multi-atom Entanglement, Quantum Beats, Coherent Population Trapping, Storage Of Photons And Quantum Interference In Phase Space. 1. Classical And Quantum Interference And Coherence -- 2. Quantum Interference In Atomic Systems : Mathematical Formalism -- 3. Superposition States And Modification Of Spontaneous Emission Rates -- 4. Quantum Interference As A Control Of Decoherence -- 5. Coherence Effects In Multi-level Systems -- 6. Field Induced Quantum Interference -- 7. Slow And Fast Light And Storage Of Photons -- 8. Quantum Interference In Phase Space -- 9. Quantum Interference In Atom Optics. Zbigniew Ficek And Stuart Swain. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [405]-411) And Index. Classical and Quantum Interference and Coherence....Pages 1-46 Quantum Interference in Atomic Systems: Mathematical Formalism....Pages 47-84 Superposition States and Modification of Spontaneous Emission Rates....Pages 85-137 Quantum Interference as a Control of Decoherence....Pages 139-177 Coherence Effects in Multi-Level Systems....Pages 179-236 Field Induced Quantum Interference....Pages 237-291 Slow and Fast Light and Storage of Photons....Pages 293-336 Quantum Interference in Phase Space....Pages 337-376 Quantum Interference in Atom Optics....Pages 377-403 Interference is the simplest phenomenon that reveals the wave nature of radiation and the correlations between radiation fields.