Admission Requirements
In addition to enthusiasm for quantum physics: B.Sc. level quantum mechanics and mathematics, and you should be familiar with the content of the M.Sc. course on quantum theory.
Description
Quantum optics is the foundation of many present-day quantum technologies like single molecule superresolution imaging and time-resolved spectroscopy, but of course also key for emerging quantum technologies: From quantum computing with superconducting qubits in microwave resonators, to quantum communications with single and entangled photons. All these examples require knowledge of the core of this course: light-matter interaction at the fundamental quantum level.
To understand quantum light-matter interactions, both the atom and the electromagnetic field need to be quantized (second quantization), and we show how this enables quantum control, manipulation and detection of quantum systems and qubits. Many interesting and highly relevant questions can be addressed within the framework of quantum optics because the calculations are relatively simple compared to other quantum field theories. This makes quantum optics ideally suited to test the foundations of quantum mechanics and probe the crossover between the microscopic realm of quantum physics to the macroscopic domain of classical physics.
Throughout the course a strong link is made between theoretical concepts and modern experimental research, also by the cutting-edge papers that students prepare and discuss.
The course covers the following subjects and topics:
Basics: quantization of the electromagnetic field, field quadratures, quantum measurement, operator ordering theorems
States of light: coherent states, thermal states, photon number states, quantum phase space distributions, Wigner functions, quantum phase operator
Sources of quantum light: squeezed light, single and entangled photon sources
Correlation functions: quantum and classical coherence, Hanbury-Brown and Twiss experiment
Quantum interference: quantum beamsplitter, Hong-Ou-Mandel effect, interferometers, homodyne detection, backaction and noise
Coupled quantum oscillators: Jaynes-Cummings model and dressed-states picture of strongly coupled systems, opto-mechanical interaction
Cavity QED: (Rydberg) atoms, quantum dots and color centers, Purcell effect, Schrödinger cat states, decoherence and quantum jumps
Quantum applications: quantum teleportation, remote entanglement generation, Bell inequality, quantum key distribution, qubits for quantum computing.
Course objectives
At the end of the course you will be able to:
Understand and being able to analyze complex quantum optics experiments, extract and understand the underlying physics.
Apply the formalism of creation and annihilation operators for the electromagnetic field to describe quantum states of light
Use quadrature representation or quasi-probability distribution to desribe various quantum states of light
Calculate and explain the fluctuations and correlations of different quantum states of light
Calculate the photon number distribution of different quantum states of light from the interaction Hamiltonian generating the state
Compute and interpret the second-order correlation function of states of light and indicate the boundary between classical and quantum light
Explain the concept of Schrödinger cat states and name several different ways of creating such macroscopic quantum states
Describe and calculate the properties of squeezed states
Explain the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect as quantum interference related to which-path-information
Calculate the visibility of quantum interference effects
Give operator expressions for the quantum optical output of arbitrary multiports and interferometers using the input-output formalism (s-matrix) of beamsplitters
Explain Bell’s theorem and experimental tests done with entangled photons
Explain and calculate the contribution of quantum fluctuations in measurements involving light
Formulate decoherence of quantum states in terms of their density matrix
Calculate and explain the eigenstates of the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian in the dressed-state picture
Explain and design simple setups used to prepare and manipulate the quantum state of an atomic qubit using the interaction of the Rabi-model
Describe how entanglement can be generated and tested in experiments that involve spontaneous parametric down-conversion or atomic cascades
The following soft skills will be trained during the course:
We will continuously train analytic thinking by interactive lectures and exercise classes.
Presentation skills are trained by the short (~10 min.) presentations about a relevant recent article in the field of experimental quantum optics
Scientific collaboration and team work during preparation of the presentation in a small group, as well as during discussions during the exercise classes.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Reading assignment (Gerry & Knight sections), lectures, student presentations, homework and exercise classes, discussions, exam.
See Brightspace
Assessment method
Doing the homework assignments is essential, and you can get a bonus point.
Student presentations are graded for each group based on the presentation and questions asked.
Written or oral examination, with questions modeled after the exercises from the tutorials, and about conceptual topics.
There is a possibility to retake the exam. The date and format (oral or written examination) of the retake will be discussed.
Reading list
C. Gerry and P. Knight, Introductory Quantum Optics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2005), ISBN 0 521 52735 X (paperback). Also available via the Library
Additional lecture notes and papers will be distributed
Suggested additional reading for a more experimental perspective: M.Fox, Quantum Optics: An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK (2001), ISBN 0198566735 (paperback). Also available via the Library
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Lecturer: Dr. W. Löffler
Remarks
Following Quantum Optics, Theory of Condensed Matter, and Quantum Field Theory, at the same time, has proven to be very challenging. Don't hesitate to drop by to discuss your plans!
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.