Coherence Effects in Vacuum-induced Processes: Theory and Applications

Quantum interference and coherence effects are an essential tool for the coherent control and manipulation of quantum systems. This book focuses on coherence and interference effects that arise in the interaction of atoms with the quantized electromagnetic field. The starting point is a general master equation for the description of atom-field interactions that is derived from first principles. This master equation does not only apply to the physical systems considered in this book, but may serve as a starting point for future studies of dipole-dipole interacting multi-level systems. Several distinct vacuum-induced coherence effects in single- and two-atom systems are described in detail. Furthermore, the book discusses potential applications of these systems for the fields of quantum computation and quantum information science. This book is intended for students who have already some background in quantum optics as well as for the experts in the field.