Quantum optics and atomic interactions
Quantum optics and atomic interactions is a research topic within Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics. Science Explorer counts 35k research works in it since 1950. 17.3% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.
This cluster of papers focuses on the phenomenon of slow light propagation and quantum memory in coherent media, particularly using techniques such as electromagnetically induced transparency, optical quantum memory, and photon storage in atomic ensembles. The research explores applications in ultraslow pulses, optical bistability, and quantum entanglement, often involving photonic crystal structures.
- Electromagnetically Induced Transparency
- Slow Light
- Quantum Memory
- Coherent Optical Media
- Atomic Ensembles
- Photon Storage
- Ultraslow Pulses
- Optical Bistability
- Quantum Entanglement
- Photonic Crystal
- Research works
- 35k fractional, since 1950
- In the world top 10%
- 6k per year above
- Top-10% rate
- 17.3% share of its works in the world top 10%
- Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
- +0% the tick is no change
Which countries lead Quantum optics and atomic interactions research?
By volume, China and the United States publish the most (1.3k and 597 works in 2022–2025).
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 China 1.3k works
- 2 United States 597 works
- 3 Russia 267 works
- 4 Germany 225 works
- 5 India 186 works
- 6 France 166 works
- 7 Japan 144 works
- 8 United Kingdom 120 works
- 9 Italy 92 works
- 10 Canada 73 works
How concentrated that is
The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.
Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.
Which institutions lead Quantum optics and atomic interactions research?
By volume in 2022–2025, Beihang University publishes the most Quantum optics and atomic interactions research, followed by University of Science and Technology of China and Shanxi University.
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 Beihang University China 68 works
- 2 University of Science and Technology of China China 46 works
- 3 Shanxi University China 35 works
- 4 Hefei University China 30 works
- 5 Peking University China 27 works
- 6 Xi'an Jiaotong University China 27 works
- 7 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France 26 works
- 8 Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications China 26 works
- 9 Chinese Academy of Sciences China 26 works
- 10 Tsinghua University China 22 works
Who are the leading researchers in Quantum optics and atomic interactions?
The most-cited researchers publishing on Quantum optics and atomic interactions include L. J. Sham, Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi.
- 1 L. J. Sham 13k citations
- 2 Kenji Watanabe 6.4k citations
- 3 Takashi Taniguchi 6.2k citations
- 4 Heng Fan 5.5k citations
- 5 J. I. Cirac 4.3k citations
- 6 A. C. Gossard 4.2k citations
- 7 D. Blöch 4.2k citations
- 8 P. Zoller 4.2k citations
Ranked by citations received across their whole record, among researchers with at least three works on this topic.
Where is Quantum optics and atomic interactions research done?
The largest centres of Quantum optics and atomic interactions research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), Moscow (Russia), Hefei (China) and Shanghai (China). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Gaithersburg and Taiyuan.
Largest cities, 2022–2025
Where it is the local speciality
- GaithersburgUS · 21.8 works27×
- TaiyuanCN · 65.7 works9.6×
Location quotient: how much more of its research is in Quantum optics and atomic interactions than the world average.
Where is the best place to study Quantum optics and atomic interactions?
Among universities, judged by research, Beihang University, Hefei University and California Institute of Technology score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.
One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.
| # | University | Score | Top 10% | Specialisation | Works | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beihang University China | 74.9 | 28.3% | 15.2× | 68 | +75.2% |
| 2 | Hefei University China | 70.0 | 34.0% | 72.4× | 30 | — |
| 3 | California Institute of Technology United States | 69.9 | 32.6% | 13.5× | 13 | +144.5% |
| 4 | University of Science and Technology of China China | 68.1 | 30.6% | 9.5× | 46 | +7.3% |
| 5 | Northeast Normal University China | 66.7 | 25.4% | 17.4× | 15 | +225.7% |
| 6 | Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications China | 64.7 | 16.7% | 14.9× | 26 | +200.6% |
| 7 | Weizmann Institute of Science Israel | 63.4 | 35.2% | 21.4× | 12 | -23.3% |
| 8 | Shanxi University China | 61.6 | 18.5% | 32.8× | 35 | +80.6% |
| 9 | Hunan Normal University China | 60.1 | 33.9% | 15.2× | 15 | +3.6% |
| 10 | ITMO University Russia | 56.4 | 11.0% | 21.1× | 15 | +238.4% |
Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.
Is Quantum optics and atomic interactions research growing?
Output in 2018–2022 was 0% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Quantum optics and atomic interactions.
The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.
Which topics inside it are moving
Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.