ID:
500614
Duration (hours):
48
CFU:
6
SSD:
FISICA DELLA MATERIA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 09/01/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Advanced quantum mechanics course. The main goal is to achieve working knowledge for research activities. Algebraic techniques (BCH formulas), Wigner functions, Master equation (open quantum systems).
Quantum optics is used as a testbed to acquire intuition about quantum phenomena (superposition, complementarity, wave-particle duality, quantum erasure, quantum seeing in the dark, etc.)
Quantum optics is used as a testbed to acquire intuition about quantum phenomena (superposition, complementarity, wave-particle duality, quantum erasure, quantum seeing in the dark, etc.)
Course Prerequisites
Quantum Mechanics and electromagnetism (at undergraduate level). The first part of the course will be devoted to a revision of all the necessary notions, also to fix the notation that will be used in the course.
Teaching Methods
The lectures are blackboardlectures (no powerpoint). Some of the more advanced topics are optional and will not be requested at the exam unless the student chooses to be evaluated on them. Interactions (questions, observations and feedback) are encouraged.
Assessment Methods
Oral examination.
The exam will reveal the comprehension of the subject matter and the capacity of autonomous elaboration and of presentation. The pure memorization of the subject is strongly discouraged and will be negatively evaluated.
Please contact the teacher to fix the examination date.
Texts
Scully, Zubairy, “Quantum Optics”, Cambridge University Press;
Gerry, Knight, “Introductory Quantum Optics”, Cambridge University Press;
Further elaborations: Mandel, Wolf, “Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics”, Cambridge University Press.
(All the above texts are present in the department library.)
Contents
The first lecture of the course will introduce the whole course, so all interested students are welcome to that lecture.
1. Revision of quantum mechanics (to fix the notation and the formal system), revision of classical electromagnetism.
2. Quantization of the free electromagnetic field and matterfield interactions through the minimal coupling Hamiltonian.
3. Algebric methods for quantum mechanics.
4. Quantum states of radiation.
5. Quantum interference and quantum superposition (various topical quantum optics experiments will be analyzed).
6. Open quantum systems (Master equations and CPmaps).
7. Detection theory in quantum optics.
Further details and the course register can be found on the course web site:
http://otticaquantistica.it/people/maccone/otticaq/
Course Language
Italian or English upon request (with general agreement)
More information
English friendly course.
The course web site contains the detailed topics of each lecture and all practical announcements:
http://otticaquantistica.it/people/maccone/otticaq
Contact the teacher for any necessities.
The lectures given in the academic year 15/16 are available online at:
http://otticaquantistica.it/people/maccone/otticaq/quantum-optics-videos/
Students requiring special assistance can contact the teacher via email to arrange for evening meetings and to discuss the lecture topics.
Degrees
Degrees (2)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Master’s Degree
2 years
SCIENZE FISICHE
Master’s Degree
2 years
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