by Claude Cohen-Tannoudji (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, France) & David Guery-Odelin (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, France)

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the spectacular advances seen in atomic physics during the last 50 years. The authors explain how such progress was possible by highlighting connections between developments that occurred at different times. They discuss the new perspectives and the new research fields that look promising. The emphasis is placed, not on detailed calculations, but rather on physical ideas. Combining both theoretical and experimental considerations, the book will be of interest to a wide range of students, teachers and researchers in quantum and atomic physics.

• Atom–Photon Interactions at the Very Heart of Quantum Physics: A Source of Information on Atoms
• A Source of Perturbations which Can Be also Useful
• A Simple System for Studying Higher Order and Non-Linear Effects
• An Ideal Frame for Exploring Quantum Interferences
• A Convenient Tool for Manipulating, Trapping and Cooling Atoms
• A Source of Inspiration for New Developments in Metrology
• A Test Bed for the Investigation of Quantum Many Body Effects