Abstract

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED) deals with the investigation and the targeted control of novel radiation phenomena that occur when light and matter interact in the confined space between nearby and highly reflecting mirrors. A famous paradigm for such phenomena is the enhancement of the rate of spontaneous emission of an excited atom or atom-like system such as a semiconductor quantum dot. That effect is applied, for instance, in modem high-power light emitting diodes. Another renowned paradigm is the coherent exchange of a single energy quantum between the light field and the atom in the so called regime of strong light-matter coupling. In this regime both light and matter loose their identity and an entangled state of light and matter is formed, with fascinating applications in the deterministic processing of quantum information involving different types of quantum bits.

© 2009 IEEE