The concept of squeezing is intimately related to the idea of vacuum fluctu ations, once thought to place an absolute limit to the accuracy of measure ment. However, vacuum fluctuations are not unchangeable. By recognizing that these quantum fluctuations always occur in two complementary observ ables, physicists have been able to make an intriguing trade-off. Reduced fluctuations in one variable can be realized - at the expense of increased fluctuations in another, according to Heisenberg. This Heisenberg 'horse-trade' - originally predicted by theorists - was first accomplished experimentally by R. Slusher in 1985. Since then, the var ious techniques and applications of quantum squeezing have metamorphosed into a central tool in the wider field of quantum information. This book is a summary of the main ideas, methods and applications of quantum squeezing, written by those responsible for some of the chief developments in the field. The book is divided into three parts, to recognize that there are three areas in this research. These are the fundamental physics of quantum fluc tuations, the techniques of generating squeezed radiation, and the potential applications. Part I of the book, giving the fundamentals, is arranged as follows. ? Chapter 1 introduces the basic ideas about what squeezing of quantum fluctuations is from the quantized free-field perspective. This chapter es tablishes the definitions and notations used throughout. ? Chapter 2 explains how to quantize radiation in a dielectric, which is the basic technique that is used to make squeezed radiation.
The subject of this book is the new field of squeezing in quantum fields. This general area includes all types of systems in which quantum fluctuations are reduced below those in the normal vacuum state. The book covers the main currently known techniques of generating squeezed photon fields, together with some treatment of matter field squeezing. Both theory and experiments are covered, together with applications to communications and measurement. The chapters of the book are written by the foremost international experts in the field, and their coverage extends from general introductory material, to the most recent developments.
From the reviews:
"The book is divided into three parts. The first three chapters are on the physics of quantum fluctuations, the next three on the techniques of generating squeezed states, and the last four on applications. ... Each chapter is written by experts in the field covering the most recent developments. ... As there is a growing interest in quantum information theory and a current lack of material in this area, this is a timely publication. Many researchers and postgraduate students will benefit from this work." (J. Hartley, Contemporary Physics, Vol. 45 (5), 2004)
"This book shows how squeezing provides a window into the mysterious quantum world ? . provides a very solid theoretical background to many aspects of the field, and elucidates the origin of quantum effects clearly. I appreciated the ability of the book to tie rigorous theoretical development into a theory encompassing the practical limitations of experimental work. It should form an important reference for anyone working in the field or for those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the quantum nature of our world." (J N Walford, The Physicist, Vol. 41 (5), September/October, 2004)
