PHY3065	Quantum Optics and Photonics	2013-14
	Dr T. Philbin
Delivery Weeks:	T2:01-11
Level:	6 (NQF)
Credits:	15 NICATS / 7.5 ECTS
Enrolment:	20 students (approx)

Description

This module explores how light may be controlled and guided, and how quantum physics may be harnessed in the future to offer new and exciting opportunities in manipulating light. This module will range over basic physics and topical applications. Topics include: waveguides and optical fibre; lasers; amplifiers; nonlinear optics; polarization, optical activity and birefringence, orbital angular momentum; entangled states; cavity QED; novel light sources; photonic crystals, negative index materials.

Module Aims

This module aims to develop a detailed understanding of the physics that underpins photonics and a familiarity with topics at the forefront of current optics research, such as the production and manipulation of light in special states.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

A student who has passed this module should be able to:

• Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
  1. describe the fundamental properties of liqht;
  2. describe how sources produce light in special (e.g. coherent and single-photon) states;
  3. explain the operation and applications of a range of photonic devices and systems;
  4. solve problems involving the interaction of light with matter by applying quantum electrodynamics (QED);
  5. explain nonlinear optical response and calculate some of its classical and quantum effects;
  6. explain quantum teleportation and describe its significance for communicating information about quantum states;
• Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
  7. solve mathematical problems;
  8. apply electrodynamics and quantum mechanics to devices, structures and systems;
• Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:
  9. develop self-study skills;
  10. solve problems.

Syllabus Plan

1. Quantum mechanics
   Dirac notation, Schroedinger, Heisenberg and interaction pictures. Composite systems and entanglement.
2. Quantisation of the electromagnetic field
   Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves and their relation to harmonic oscillators. Quantum electromagnetic waves. Fock states. Electromagnetic zero-point energy.
3. Thermal radiation and fluctuations in photon number
4. Single-mode quantum light
   Field and quadrature operators.
5. Single-mode number states
6. Light-atom interactions
   Electric-dipole approximation. Perturbation theory. Absorption, stimulated and spontaneous emission, Einstein's A and B coefficients.
7. Single-mode coherent states and their relation to classical light
8. Beam splitters and single-photon interference
9. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer
10. Two-photon interference and the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect
11. Nonlinear optics
    Non-linear polarization. The slowly-varying-amplitude approximation.
12. Nonlinear fiber optics
    The nonlinear Schroedinger equation. Optical solitons.
13. Parametric down-conversion and squeezed states
14. Quantum teleportation
    The no-cloning theorem. Entangled photon pairs and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen states. Qubits and quantum gates. Teleportation.

Learning and Teaching

Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Description	Study time	KIS type
20×1-hour lectures	20 hours	SLT
2×1-hour problems/revision classes	2 hours	SLT
5×6-hour self-study packages	30 hours	GIS
4×4-hour problem sets	16 hours	GIS
Reading, private study and revision	82 hours	GIS

Assessment

Weight	Form	Size	When	ILOS assessed	Feedback
0%	Guided self-study	5×6-hour packages	Fortnightly	1-8	Discussion in class
0%	4 × Problems sets	4 hours per set	Fortnightly	1-8	Solutions discussed in problems classes.
100%	Final Examination	2 hours 30 minutes	May/June	1-8	Mark via MyExeter, collective feedback via ELE and solutions.

Resources

The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of information that students are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Instructor(s).

Core text:

• Not applicable

Supplementary texts:

• Pedrotti F.L. and Pedrotti F.J.L.S. (2007), Introduction to Optics (3^rd edition), Pearson Prentice-Hall, ISBN 978-0-131-97133-2 (UL: 535 PED)

ELE:

• http://newton.ex.ac.uk/redirects/ELE/phy3065

Further Information

Prior Knowledge Requirements

Pre-requisite Modules	Waves and Optics (PHY1023), Quantum Mechanics I (PHY2022) and Electromagnetism II (PHY3051)
Co-requisite Modules	none

Re-assessment

Re-assessment is not available except when required by referral or deferral.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Time scale for re-assessment
Whole module	Written examination (100%)	1-8	August/September assessment period

Notes: See Physics Assessment Conventions.

KIS Data Summary

Learning activities and teaching methods SLT - scheduled learning & teaching activities 22 hrs GIS - guided independent study 128 hrs PLS - placement/study abroad 0 hrs Total 150 hrs

Summative assessment Coursework 0% Written exams 100% Practical exams 0% Total 100%

Miscellaneous

IoP Accreditation Checklist	N/A this is an optional module
Availability	unrestricted
Distance learning	NO
Keywords	Physics; quantum optics; photonics; optics; Maxwell's equations; electodynamics; quantum mechanics.
Created	01-Oct-10
Revised	N/A