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Quantum optics and photonics (MVSem)
Dozent: Prof Julian Schmitt
15 Teilnehmer/innen
The seminar provides an introduction to quantum optics and photonics. We will focus on landmark experiments that shaped our understanding of the quantum nature of light and its interaction with matter. The topics build on one another, highlighting how experimental capabilities enabled new physics. Beginning with the foundations of photon statistics and coherence, the seminar progresses through single-photon generation, light–matter coupling, entanglement, and nonclassical states of light, and explore how these concepts are implemented in modern platforms. Each topic is anchored by key papers that exemplify both conceptual insight and experimental technique. Participants should be familiar with quantum mechanics, atomic physics, optics, and electrodynamics.
The first talks will take place on Monday, May 4th 2026, at 14:15 o'clock in Seminar room 03.404 (KIP, INF 227). For more dates, see the calendar (right) or table (below).
To complete the seminar:
- students prepare slides and present talk (approx. 30 minutes) emphasising the physical ideas behind their topic, experimental design, and interpretation of results
- complete discussion round after talk
- actively participate in all presentations and discussions
- submit 2-page summary about their topic by the end of the seminar
Topics :
- What is “Quantum” about Light?
- Measuring Single Photons
- Light–Matter Interaction
- Nonlinear Quantum Optics
- Entanglement
- Quantum States of Light
- Quantum Information with Photons
- Integrated & Solid-State Platforms
- Computational Experiments
- Cavity Optomechanics, Bose-Einstein condensates of photons
- Photonic Quantum Simulators
Learning goals:
- understanding and explaining key concepts of quantum optics and photonics, including theoretical models and experiments
- critical reading of research literature and placing modern quantum science experiments in their conceptual context
- developing presentation skills and communication of advanced topics through presentations and scholarly discussion
Übungsgruppen
- Gruppe Gr1 (Nikolas Longen)
8 Teilnehmer/innen
INF 227 03.404, Mo 14:00 - 16:00 - Gruppe Gr2 (Daniel Ehrmanntraut)
7 Teilnehmer/innen
INF 227 03.404, Mo 14:00 - 16:00
Vorträge
- Mo 4.5.2026 14:15 Photon Statistics (*)
Hanbury Brown–Twiss Experiment, Intensity correlations, Coherence functions, Poissonian vs. super- and sub-Poissonian, Photon bunching - Mo 4.5.2026 15:15 Single Photons & Antibunching
Photon antibunching, Single emitters, Resonance fluorescence, Quantum light sources, g²(0) measurements - Mo 18.5.2026 14:15 Light-Matter-Interaction
Jaynes–Cummings model, Rabi oscillations, Atom–field coupling, Quantum collapse and revival, Cavity QED - Mo 1.6.2026 14:15 Generation of Entangled Photons
Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion, Nonlinear quantum optics, Photon pairs, Energy–momentum conservation, Entangled states - Mo 1.6.2026 15:15 Hong–Ou–Mandel Two-Photon interference
Two-photon interference, Indistinguishability, Beam splitters, Quantum interference, Coincidence detection - Mo 8.6.2026 14:15 Quantum Key Distribution (*)
QKD protocols, No-cloning theorem, Security proofs, Single photons, Quantum communication - Mo 8.6.2026 15:15 Loophole-Free Bell Tests
Entanglement, Nonlocality, Polarization correlations, detection loophole, locality loophole, device independence, Quantum foundations - Mo 15.6.2026 14:15 Squeezed States
Squeezing, Quantum noise, Heisenberg limit, Phase sensitivity, Metrology - Mo 15.6.2026 15:15 Schrödinger Cat States
Macroscopic superpositions, Decoherence, Wigner functions, Nonclassical states, Quantum measurement - Mo 29.6.2026 14:15 Bose-Einstein Condensates of photons (*)
Quantum gases, phase transitions, Bose-Einstein statistics, BE condensation, critical particle number, trapping potentials, optical cavities, second-order correlations - Mo 29.6.2026 15:15 Cavity Optomechanics
Radiation pressure, Mechanical quantization, Cooling to ground state, Hybrid systems, Quantum control - Mo 6.7.2026 14:15 Quantum Dots as Single-Photon Sources
Solid-state emitters, Quantum dots, On-demand photons, Integration, Spectral purity - Mo 6.7.2026 15:15 Integrated Quantum Photonics
Waveguide optics, On-chip interferometry, Scalability, Photonic circuits, Quantum integration - Mo 13.7.2026 14:15 Linear Optical Quantum Computing
Measurement-induced nonlinearity, Ancilla photons, Postselection, Quantum gates - Mo 13.7.2026 15:15 Frontiers: The Quantum Internet
Quantum networks, Entanglement distribution, Repeaters, Long-distance communication, Future architectures
Information about who is giving which talk is available here
