Parametric Processes and Quantum States of Light

This book provides exact analytical solutions to some of the most challenging and exciting problems in quantum optics, ranging from the theory of multi-level atom-radiation field interaction to multi-photon parametric processes in non-linear quantum optics. The problems are generally reduced to two-state dynamics for which detailed reader-friendly solution procedures displaying every important mathematical step are presented. The exact discrete and equivalent continuous variable time evolution operators generate explicitly specified time evolving spin / helicity coherent state vectors and Schroedinger wave functions describing the general quantum states of light, including dissipative dynamics. Photon polarization state dynamics under semi-classical and fully quantized parametric interactions is clearly presented. All the results in fully quantized parametric processes in non-linear quantum optics are new and are appearing for the first time in the literature. The book is particularly useful for graduate level teaching and as a resource text for research in linear and non-linear quantum optics.