The Jaynes-Cummings Model and Its Descendants

Here the authors provide a historical overview motivating the discussion with landmarks in the evolution of quantum mechanics and quantum optics in the 20th and 21st centuries. Using the physics of the JCM as a common denominator, the authors link various fields of modern physics including cavity and circuit quantum electrodynamics, light-mediated Bose-Einstein condensation and related phenomena, optomechanics, quantum phase transitions out of equilibrium, quantum computation and manipulation, relating both to the underlying theoretical principles and the relevant experimental evidence accrued over the recent decades.

Theory and experiment are discussed side by side, while the mathematical formalism the reader is exposed to can be grasped by university students at the undergraduate level. The book has been structured with a relatively long first chapter that discusses the key model, but also some of its extensions. The following chapters are devoted to specific physical system realizations. It aspires to provide a broad overview of a subject which ranges from the foundations of quantum mechanics to the technological advancements pertaining to quantum computation. JCM physics is omnipresent across a broad swathe of physics and the authors aim to convey to the reader the generality of the formalism and, at the same time, guide them through many different branches using that formalism and their applications, which have now become research fields of their own.

Whilst it serves as an introduction to the field for the early career researchers, it equally serves as review for the reader already familiar with the topic. As such it presents a complete summary of the field, with numerous references to the relevant articles.