Gerry (physics, City University of New York) and Knight (physics, Imperial College, UK) provide an elementary introduction to quantum optics, the study of the quantum-mechanical nature of light and its interaction with matter. The presentation is almost entirely concerned with the quantized electromagnetic field. Topics covered include single-mode field quantization in a cavity, quantization of multimode fields, and coherent states. The text is designed for upper-level undergraduates taking courses in quantum optics who have already taken a course in quantum mechanics, and for first- and second-year graduate students. A solutions manual is available separately. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)