Path-integral approach to problems in quantum optics

Abstract

A formalism for applying path integrals to certain problems in nonlinear optics is considered. The properties of a coherent-state propagator are discussed and a path-integral representation for the propagator is presented. This representation is then employed in evaluating the propagator for general single-mode and multimode Hamiltonians which are at most quadratic in the creation and destruction operators of the field. Some examples involving parametric processes are given.