Skip to main content

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Science Institutes Series ((NSSB,volume 94))

Abstract

If one repeatedly measures the same observable of a macroscopic system at steady-state, one finds each time a slightly different result, even in the limit of negligible experimental error. This fact is usually described by saying that the value of the observable fluctuates. The very cause of this phenomenon is that we have no control on the microscopic variables of the system. The underlying microscopic structure of the macroscopic system makes itself manifest just via the fluctuations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. R. Kubo, in “Statistical Mechanics of Equilibrium and Nonequi- librium”, S. Meixner ed. (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1965) and references quoted therein.

    Google Scholar 

  2. L. P. Kadanoff et al., Rev. Mod. Phys.39, 395 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. H. Haken, “Synergetics: An introduction” ( Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1977 ).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. G. Nicolis and I. Prigogine, “Self-Organization in Non Equilibrium Systems” ( Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1977 ).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. Sargent, M. O. Scully and W. Lamb, “Laser Physics” (Addison- Wesley, Reading Mass., 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  6. H. Haken, Handbuch der Physik Vol. XXV/2c ( Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1970 ).

    Google Scholar 

  7. F. T. Arecchi and V. Degiorgio, in “Laser Handbook”, F. T. Arecchi and E. O. Schulz-Dubois (North-Holland, Amsterdam, Vol. 1, p. 191 (1972)). This paper gives references about the experimental works on laser statistics by Armstrong and Smith, Freed and Haus, Mandel and coworkers, Pike and coworkers, and others.

    Google Scholar 

  8. L. A. Lugiato, Physica81 A, 565 (1975); 82 A, 1 (1976).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Abragam, “The Principles of Nuclear Magnetism” ( Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1961 ).

    Google Scholar 

  10. F. Haake, “Springer Tracts in Modern Physics” n. 66, (Springer- Verlag, Berlin, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  11. G. S. Agarwal, “Springer Tracts in Modern Physics” n. 70, (Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1974) and references quoted therein.

    Google Scholar 

  12. R. J. Glauber, Phys. Rev.130, 2529 (1963).

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. R. J. Glauber, Phys. Rev.131, 2766 (1963).

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. E. P. Wigner, Phys. Rev.40, 749 (1932).

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. W. H. Louisell, “Quantum Statistical Properties of Radiation” ( Wiley, New York, 1973 ).

    Google Scholar 

  16. V. Degiorgio and M. 0. Scully, Phys. Rev.A2, 1170 (1970).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. R. Graham and H. Haken, Zeit. f. Phys.237, 31 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. F. Casagrande and L. A. Lugiato, Phys. Rev.A15, 429 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. F. Casagrande and L. A. Lugiato, Phys. Rev.A14, 778 (1976).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. F. Casagrande and L. A. Lugiato, Nuovo Cimento488, 287 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  21. H. Risken, Zeit. f. Phys.186, 85 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Casagrande, F., Lugiato, L.A. (1983). Fluctuations in Quantum Optical Systems. In: Meystre, P., Scully, M.O. (eds) Quantum Optics, Experimental Gravity, and Measurement Theory. NATO Advanced Science Institutes Series, vol 94. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3712-6_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3712-6_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3714-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3712-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics