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Essentials of Quantum Optics

By Prof. Amarendra Kumar Sarma   |   IIT Guwahati
Learners enrolled: 145
ABOUT THE COURSE:

Quantum Technology is at the forefront of research today. In recent times, there is huge interest in quantum computers, quantum sensors and quantum information science. Without a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts of quantum optics, it’s not possible to move ahead with research in quantum technology related areas. Unfortunately, quantum optics is not covered anywhere in an accessible way. This course will enable the students to understand the fundamentals of quantum optics easily. Also, they will learn associated mathematical tools. The course will prepare and motivate them to take a research carrier in this highly promising modern area of inter-disciplinary research.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Students from B.Tech. Engineering Physics, M.Sc. Physics and B.Tech. Electrical Engineering. Also, Ph.D. students working in the area of Condensed Matter Physics and Quantum Optics.

PREREQUISITES: An elementary course on Quantum Mechanics
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 8 weeks
Category :
  • Physics
Credit Points : 2
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 18 Aug 2025
End Date : 10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends : 18 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 29 Aug 2025
Exam Date : 25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


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Course layout

Week 1:
Lec1: 
Introduction; Postulates of Quantum Mechanics;
Lec2: Quantum Harmonic Oscillator;
Lec3: Two-level atoms

Week 2: 
Lec4: Density matrix formalism
Lec5: Quantisation of single mode field
Lec6: Vacuum fluctuations; multimode fields

Week 3: 
Lec7: Coherent states-I
Lec8: Coherent states-II
Lec9: Squeezed states

Week 4: 
Lec10: Atom-field interactions; The Rabi model
Lec11: The dressed states; The Jayness Cummings model-I
Lec12: The Jayness Cummings model-II

Week 5: 
Lec13: The quantum master equation-I
Lec14: The quantum master equation-II

Week 6: 
Lec15: Mechanical effects of light; Concept of Laser Cooling
Lec16: Quantum optics with Superconducting circuits-I

Week 7: 
Lec17: Quantum optics with Superconducting circuits-II
Lec18: Quantum optics with Superconducting circuits-III

Week 8: 
Lec19: Quantum Optomechanics-I
Lec20: Quantum Optomechanics-II; Optomechanical sensors

Books and references

1. Introductory Quantum Optics, Gerry and Knight Cambridge University Press (2005)
2. Quantum Optics, G.S. Agarwal, Cambridge University Press (2013)
3. An Introduction to Quantum Optics and Quantum Fluctuations, P.W. Milonni, Oxford University Press (2019)

Instructor bio

Prof. Amarendra Kumar Sarma

IIT Guwahati
Dr. Amarendra Kumar Sarma is a Professor of Physics, in the department of Physics, IIT Guwahati. He works on a multitude of frontier areas, covering both fundamental and applied aspects of theoretical quantum and nonlinear optics. His current focus of research is Cavity Quantum Optomechanics and quantum correlations. He has successfully guided 10 Ph.D. students so far and currently another 5 students are working in his group towards their Ph.Ds. Prof. Sarma has published many high quality research articles in prestigious physics journals.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: October 25, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Guwahati .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team


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