EIU Department of Physics

Quantum Optics

Classical Optics is the study of light in its wave nature. Quantum Optics is more about the photon nature of light.  Light comes in packets known as photons and these particles of light can interact with matter. When photons interact with matter it is best described by Quantum Mechanics. There are effects that can be seen in Quantum Optics that are amazing and unusual. Though the predictions of the theory are accurate, the results are often counterintuitive.

Research in this area at EIU is generally experimental. There are currently three different experimental programs in this area. The Quantum Entanglement group is led by Dr. Daniels. The Polarization Optics group is led by Dr. Daniels.

• Quantum Entanglement
• Polarization Optics
• Optical Tweezers