Ole Keller - Böcker

The photon, an abstract concept belonging to a global vacuum, only manifests itself duringinteraction with matter. Fundamentals of Photon Physics describes the richly faceted, basic theoryof photon-matter interaction, selecting a wide number of topics. Together with the author’s bookLight -- The Physics of the Photon (CRC, 2014), both written on a scholarly level, the reader isgiven a comprehensive exposition of photon wave mechanics, quantum optics and quantumelectrodynamics (QED).Divided into 10 parts, the book begins by exploring the relation between photon wave mechanicsand quantum field theory. It then describes the theories of zero- and one-photon states andthat of bi-photons. After discussing conservation laws, Lagrangian formulations, geometricphase and topology, the author turns towards the theory of photon scattering, emphasizing adensity matrix operator approach and the role of microscopic extinction theorems. The booknext focuses on mesoscopic QED, devoting particular attention to collective jellium excitationsand photon-spin interactions. Special attention is given to the basics of the photon-magnoninteraction and nonlinear superconductor electrodynamics, including the nonlinear Meissnerrectification phenomenon, before studying the theory of transverse photons tied to (dressing)massive particles.The last three parts take the reader on a journey to topics usually not treated in books on photon-matter interaction. Beginning with photons in curved space-time structures and in spatiallycurved media, e.g. Möbius bands, the author discusses the extension of QED to the electro-weakinteraction at an introductory level. Fundamentals of Photon Physics ends with the establishmentof the set of isovector Maxwell equations in non-Abelian SO(3) gauge theory, leading tothe celebrated hedgehog monopole model.Ole Keller is professor emeritus of theoretical physics at Aalborg University, Denmark. He earned his Licentiate (∼ PhD) degree in semiconductor physics from the Danish Technical University in Copenhagen in 1972, and the Doctor of Science degree from the University of Aarhus (1996). In 1989 he was appointed as the first professor in physics at Aalborg University by Margrethe Den Anden, queen of Denmark. The same year he was admitted to Kraks Blaa Bog, a prestigious Danish biographical dictionary which (citatum) ”Includes men and women, whose life story could have an interest for a wider public”. He is a fellow of the Optical Society of America.He has written the books entitled Quantum Theory of Near-Field Electrodynamics (Springer, 2011) and LIGHT - The Physics of the Photon (CRC, 2014), as well as the monographs Local Fields in the Electrodynamics of Mesoscopic Media (Physics Reports, 1996) and On the Theory of Spatial Localization of Photons (Physics Reports, 2005). He is the editor of the books Nonlinear Optics in Solids (Springer, 1990), Studies in Classical and Quantum Nonlinear Optics (Nova Science, 1995) and Notions and Perspectives of Nonlinear Optics (World Scientific, 1996).In recent years he has carried out theoretical research in fundamental photon physics, microscopic few-photon diffraction, mesoscopic and Möbius band electrodynamics, and studied magnetic monopole theory based on QED and the isovector Maxwell equations in non-Abelian gauge symmetry.

From the early wave-particle arguments to the mathematical theory of electromagnetism to Einstein’s work on the quantization of light, different descriptions of what constitutes light have existed for over 300 years. Light – The Physics of the Photon examines the photon phenomenon from several perspectives. It demonstrates the importance of studying the photon as a concept belonging to a global vacuum (matter-free space).Divided into eight parts, the book begins with exploring aspects of classical optics in a global vacuum on the basis of free-space Maxwell equations. It then describes light rays and geodesics and presents a brief account of the Maxwell theory in general relativity. After discussing the theory of photon wave mechanics, the author gives a field-quantized description of the electromagnetic field, emphasizing single-photon quantum optics in Minkowskian space. He next focuses on photon physics in the rim zone of matter, paying particular attention to photon emission processes. He also takes a closer look at the photon source domain and field propagators, which conveniently describe the photon field propagation in the vicinity of and far from the electronic source domain. The last two parts discuss the photon vacuum and light quanta in Minkowskian space as well as two-photon entanglement, which is associated with the biphoton in space-time.

"Quantum Theory of Near-field Electrodynamics" gives a self-contained account of the fundamental theory of field-matter interaction on a subwavelength scale. The quantum physical behavior of matter (atoms and mesoscopic media) in both classical and quantum fields is treated. The role of local-field effects and nonlocal electrodynamics, and the tight links to the theory of spatial photon localization are emphasized. The book may serve as a reference work in the field, and is of general interest for physicists working in quantum optics, mesoscopic electrodynamics and physical optics. The macroscopic and microscopic classical theories form a good starting point for the quantum approach, and these theories are presented in a manner appropriate for graduate students entering near-field optics.

"Quantum Theory of Near-field Electrodynamics" gives a self-contained account of the fundamental theory of field-matter interaction on a subwavelength scale.

In recent years one has witnessed in physics a substantial increase in interest in carrying out fundamental studies in the nonlinear optics of condensed matter. At the Danish universities, this increase has been especially pronounced at the Institute of Physics at the University of Aalborg, where the main activities are centered around fundamental research within the domains of nonlinear quantum optics, nonlinear optics of metals and superconductors, and nonlinear surface optics. In recognition of this it was decided to arrange the first international summer school on nonlinear optics in Denmark at the Institute of Physics at the University of Aalborg. This book is based on the lectures and contributed papers presented at this international summer school, which was held in the period 31 July-4 Au­ gust 1989. About 60 experienced and younger scientists from 12 different countries participated. Twenty-eight lectures were given by 14 distinguished scientists from the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Scotland, England, and Denmark. In addition to the lectures given by the invited speakers, 11 contributed papers were presented. The programme of the summer school em­ phasized a treatment of basic physical properties of the nonlinear interaction of light and condensed matter and both theoretical and experimental aspects were covered. Furthermore, general principles as well as topics of current interest in the research literature were discussed.