Quantum Optics 1 Single Photons
This course gives you access to basic tools and concepts to understand research articles and books on modern quantum optics. You will learn about quantization of light, formalism to describe quantum states of light without any classical analogue, and observables allowing one to demonstrate typical quantum properties of these states. These tools will be applied to the emblematic case of a one-photon wave packet, which behaves both as a particle and a wave. Wave-particle duality is a great quantum mystery in the words of Richard Feynman. You will be able to fully appreciate real experiments demonstrating wave-particle duality for a single photon, and applications to quantum technologies based on single photon sources, which are now commercially available. The tools presented in this course will be widely used in our second quantum optics course, which will present more advanced topics such as entanglement, interaction of quantized light with matter, squeezed light, etc…So if you have a good knowledge in basic quantum mechanics and classical electromagnetism, but always wanted to know:
• how to go from classical electromagnetism to quantized radiation,
• how the concept of photon emerges,
• how a unified formalism is able to describe apparently contradictory behaviors observed in quantum optics labs,
• how creative physicists and engineers have invented totally new technologies based on quantum properties of light,
then this course is for you.
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Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Quantization of light: one mode
Week 2
One photon state in a single mode: particle-like behaviour
Week 3
One photon interference: Wave-Particle duality
Week 4
Multimode quantized radiation: quantum optics in a real lab
Week 5
One photon sources in the real world
Week 6
Wave-particle duality for a single photon in the real world
Week 7
One-photon based quantum technologies
FAQ
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Is it necessary to follow this course to enrol in the future second course on quantum optics?
There is no obligation, but the notions learned in this course will be necessary to follow the second course, which will present interaction between matter and quantized radiation, absorption, stimulated emission and spontaneous emission of photons, squeezed light, entangled photons, quantum treatment of non-linear optics, and applications to quantum technologies, etc...
Reviews
Very good introduction to the subject, I enjoyed the dynamics of the lessons. I am looking forward for the more advanced part 2!
Can't wait any longer for the second course. Wonderful. Stimulating.
Excellent presentations and informative problem sets for an un-intuitive topic.
Fantastic course. I do not have a quantum optics course at my university this course had immediate benefits to my graduate research in quantum optics.
