We are studying the fundamental nature of light and its interaction with atoms.
Light beams produced by an incandescent bulb, a laser, and an atom are different.
An understanding of this difference requires use of the quantum theory of light. These studies of quantum effects are important not only fundamentally but also have potential applications in atomic spectroscopy, optical precision measurements, optical computing, optical storage, and optical communication. We have been studying the properties of nonclassical states generated by nonlinear optical processes such as second harmonic generation, four-wave mixing, and optical parametric oscillation. Many of these states have been experimentally realized. We have developed new techniques to study the statistical properties of these nonclassical states.