An outline of the book, with the complete first chapter, may be seen by clicking here.

"In the years since the second world war optics has been transformed. The application to light fields of the statistical theories of noise and random signals, which were developed in the radar field, brought the theory of optical coherence to such a pitch that practically all of classical physical optics, including the wave theory of optical imaging, could be treated by the methods of coherence theory (Born and Wolf: Principles of optics). Coherence theory became 'a theory of optics in terms of observables', and when in 1963 Glauber, and Sudarshan, showed how quantum electrodynamics could be used to describe optical fields, it was the theory of optical coherence that Glauber took as his jumping-off point into the new discipline of quantum optics.

Classical physical optics was founded on Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. The introduction of the ideas of probability and statistics led to the theory of optical coherence. And then the addition of quantum ideas gave us quantum optics. To understand the trends and potentialities of optics today we must, therefore, see how electromagnetism, statistics, and quantum theory merge into this new and exciting discipline.

The book is intended for final year physics undergraduates. I have assumed a slight knowledge of probability; a slight acquaintance with Fourier series and transforms; knowledge of the applications of Maxwell's electromagnetic equations up to the concepts of momentum density, energy density, and Poynting's vector; and a knowledge of quantum mechanics as far as the harmonic oscillator, and the Dirac notation. In addition I assume a familiarity with interference and diffraction optics such as would be obtained in a conventional intermediate or junior honours course in physical optics, reinforced by a corresponding optical laboratory class."

In 2004 Dick was, very slowly, sorting a mass of old manuscripts. He read and put aside some of them, saying "that was good!"

In 2007 Winifred came across these papers, read some of them and agreed, yes it was good. So she set about transcribing them for other people to read. She notes:

I have compiled a file from papers left by R. M. Sillitto, intended for an introductory book on Statistical and quantum optics.

Chapters 1, 2, 4 and 6 were available as typescripts and also as one or more manuscripts in Dick's handwriting in each case. Chapters 7, 8, 9 and 10 are taken from manuscripts (not typescripts) which appear to be first drafts. I have included [in square brackets, and italics] notes which Dick had attached to these manuscripts, indicating his further intentions.

Appendix A was to be a special feature of the book. Dick told me he had been collecting material for it for many years. Each of the 10 pages was to include a reference to a paper about a significant experiment, one diagram, and a brief description and comment. Unfortunately I have not (yet) been able to find anything which might have been intended for this.

An early version of Chapter 5 bears a pencilled note which suggests that this material was being used in lectures to undergraduates in November 1970. A later, substantially different, version was still clearly not meant to be the final version.

Chapter 3 was my biggest problem; 4 pages of typescript with large gaps for equations and mathematical symbols had an undated covering note of apology from the departmental secretary. She had found it in a drawer where she had put it when a typist had brought it in. The only manuscript headed Chapter 3 was in fact part of the typed Chapter 4, and an early draft headed Chapter 4 turned out to be the second half of chapter 3. Fortunately I found another early draft whose pages numbered 2.18 - 2.21 included equations which fitted the gaps for equations in the incomplete typescript for Chapter 3, and these have been inserted. The text of the typescript was a considerable improvement on that of this draft. Unfortunately I have not been able to find the improved manuscript so have finished chapter 3 with this early version.

If you would be interested in reading and commenting on the full text, please email request[at]sillittopages.co.uk giving your genuine name and address and your reason for being interested.