This classroom-tested textbook is a modern primer on the rapidly developing field of quantum nano optics which investigates the optical properties of nanosized materials.

The essentials of both classical and quantum optics are presented before embarking through a stimulating selection of further topics, such as various plasmonic phenomena, thermal effects, open quantum systems, and photon noise.

Didactic and thorough in style, and requiring only basic knowledge of classical electrodynamics, the text provides all further physics background and additional mathematical and computational tools in a self-contained way. Numerous end-of-chapter exercises allow students to apply and test their understanding of the chapter topics and to refine their problem-solving techniques.

Autorentext

Ulrich Hohenester is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Graz, Austria. In 1997 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Graz, and spent the years 1997--2000 as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Modena and Reggion Emilia, Italy. In 2001 he joined the Solid State Theory group in Graz where he obtained his Habilitation in Theoretical Physics. His general interest is in the theoretical description of nanoscale light-matter interactions with a strong focus on plasmonics. He developed a course on nano and quantum optics which was taught several times at the graduate level and which forms the basis of this textbook.

Inhalt

Part I Nano Optics.- What is nano optics?.- Maxwell's equations in a nutshell.- Angular spectrum representation.- Symmetry and forces.- Green functions.- Diffraction limit and beyond.- Material properties.- Stratied media.- Particle plasmons.- Photonic local density of states.- Computational methods in nano optics.- Part II Quantum Aspects.- What is quantum optics?.- Light-matter interaction.- The photon.- Two-level systems.- Master equation.- Photon correlations.- Optical properties from first principles.- Thermal nearfields and the Casimir effect.- Cavities and lasers.- Appendices.