Quantum optics, or study of quantum properties of light, has lead in the past ten years to the development of new experimental and theoretical tools that go beyond traditional non-linear optics. The goals are on one hand a better understanding of light-matter interaction, and on the other hand the implementation of new techniques capable of overcoming the noise limitations imposed by the quantum nature of light on the efficiency of ultra-sensitive optical devices, like in spectroscopy or optical telecommunication. 

Presently quantum optics provides useful tools and methods for the broader field of quantum information processing. In that context our group is working on single atom trapping in order to  implement "qubits", and on novel quantum cryptography protocols.