From Quantum Optics to Quantum Technologies

TL;DR

This review traces the evolution of quantum optics from fundamental studies of light's quantum properties to its pivotal role in developing quantum technologies like quantum computing and communication.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical tools, experimental techniques, and applications that have advanced quantum optics and its impact on quantum technology development.

Findings

Quantum optics has been fundamental in understanding quantum coherence and entanglement.

Experimental techniques have enabled control and measurement of quantum light properties.

Quantum optics underpins many emerging quantum technologies, including quantum computing and simulation.

Abstract

Quantum optics is the study of the intrinsically quantum properties of light. During the second part of the 20th century experimental and theoretical progress developed together; nowadays quantum optics provides a testbed of many fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics such as coherence and quantum entanglement. Quantum optics helped trigger, both directly and indirectly, the birth of quantum technologies, whose aim is to harness non-classical quantum effects in applications from quantum key distribution to quantum computing. Quantum light remains at the heart of many of the most promising and potentially transformative quantum technologies. In this review, we celebrate the work of Sir Peter Knight and present an overview of the development of quantum optics and its impact on quantum technologies research. We describe the core theoretical tools developed to express and study the quantum properties of light, the key experimental approaches used to control, manipulate and measure such properties and their application in quantum simulation, and quantum computing.