Up-to-date teaching and learning of quantum optics at the beginning of the XXIst century
The turn of the century has brought new perspectives for teaching Quantum Optics. Recent research results provide opportunities to educate specialists in the area with considerable less efforts than in the recent past. Important experiments can now be performed using cheaper optical sources. Full quantum electrodynamics approaches are often simpler to understand, and indeed more comprehensive than the semi-classical ones used before. This correlates well with the fact that it is easier to introduce quantum mechanics using Feynman's many path approach, the root of quantum electrodynamics, instead of the traditional picture based on a set of postulates. A set of cases is presented to demonstrate that full quantization of radiation and matter is not that hard to grasp by physics students with a background in quantum mechanics. The strong motivation achieved is reinforced with a set of medium cost experiments in which matter and radiation are seeing to interact, sometimes in surprising ways. Not to mention the motivating applications and high-technology potential of present quantum optics, the teaching of both introductory and advanced quantum optics can now be performed at the highest level with an effort which, if not less, is comparable with the required when using the semi-classical approach.