Frontiers of Quantum Optics and Laser Physics

Since the advent of laser about forty years ago, the field of modern quantum optics has evolved into a major discipline. The early studies included the optical coherence theory and the semiclassical and quantum mechanical theories of laser. More recently, many new and interesting effects have been predicted. These include the role of coherent effects in lasing without inversion and electromagnetically induced transparency, atom optics, laser cooling and trapping, single-atom micromaser and its role in the quantum measurement theory, to name a few. These proceedings bring together the presentations delivered at the International Conference on Quantum Optics and Laser Physics, held January 3 - 6, 1997 in Hong Kong to discuss the many exciting developments in quantum optics, and attended by scientists from over 15 countries around the world. In addition to the 21 invited lectures, 35 contributed oral papers and 34 poster presentations, the volume contains the plenary lectures of Novel Laureates Willis Lamb, Jr. and Chin-Ning Yang. This book will serve as a useful update to the exciting new developments in Quantum Optics and Laser Physics research.