Appl. Phys.
B 60, 71-72 (1995)
Applied
Physics B ,..,s
and Optics
© Springer-Verlag 1995
Editorial
Fundamental Systems in Quantum Optics
"... we are not experimenting with single particles, any more than we can raise
Ichthyosauria in the zoo." This sentence of E. Schr6dinger from 1952 comes to mind,
when today we observe the non-classical features in the fluorescence light from a
single ion stored in a Paul trap. We are reminded of it again, when a Paul-Straubel
trap allows us to find an extremely narrow line of a single indium ion pushing so
the limits of frequency stabilization beyond expectations. Likewise, we are taken by
the fascination surrounding the micromaser - an amazing maser driven by a single
atom. These are only three of many impressive examples of single-particle physics,
demonstrating the experimental capabilities of current quantum optics. Should we
have chosen instead the experimental verification of the Jaynes-Cummings revivals
in the interaction between a single mode of the radiation field and a single atom?
Why not use the delayed-choice version of quantum beats, relying on the atomic
excitation by a single photon? This phenomenon brings out most clearly and makes a
definitive decision in favor of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics:
The past has no existence, except as it is recorded in the present. As impressive as
these single-particle experiments are, the phase transitions of many ions stored in a
Paul trap or in a miniature storage ring and the formation of ordered structures have
opened a new field in few-body physics and is now a paradigm in chaos theory.
All these phenomena we associate with the name of Herbert Walther. On the
occasion of his 60th birthday it is appropriate to highlight his impact on the field of
quantum optics by summarizing the state of the art of this branch of physics. Under
the heading of Fundamental Systems in Quantum Optics we have asked many of our
colleagues to contribute to a feature issue, devoted to this topic and dedicated to
Herbert Walther. Their response was overwhelming: The space of a single issue was
not enough to include all accepted papers, covering topics ranging from the physics
of ion traps via the micromaser to novel laser devices. We were therefore forced to
distribute the articles over two parts. We have assembled the papers according to
the topics of Herbert Walther's own research interests: The first part starts with the
introductory articles of the three Nobel laureates and contains papers on ion traps,
cold atoms and atom traps, atom and neutron optics and closes with fundamental
problems. The second part, to be published as a Supplement to Applied Physics B,
deals with the physics of the micromaser and cavity QED, non-classical light, atomic
coherence effects, high precision spectroscopy, nonlinear dynamics, nonlinear optics
and concludes with laser devices. To bring out the unity of the two parts of this issue
we have included the table of contents of the Supplement after this editorial.
We want to thank all our colleagues who have contributed to this feature issue
and have made it into an up-to-date collection of articles summarizing the state of
art of quantum optics. We are also most grateful to our referees for their help and
their cooperation in promptly providing their reports. Finally, we acknowledge the
substantial help of Dr. K. Vogel and the editorial support of Dr. H. Lotsch and Dr. H.
Riedesel from the Springer-Verlag. We express our special thanks to Dr. W. Skolaut
72
from Springer-Verlag, who helped to prepare this feature issue in the shortest time
possible. It was a great pleasure to work with him on this project.
We dedicate the issue in its two parts to Herbert Walther on the occasion of his
60th birthday. Happy Birthday! May success and health continue to follow you.
Konstanz Gerhard Rempe
Ulm Wolfgang Schleich
January 1995
