From negative refraction to single photon control: New frontiers in quantum coherence

Abstract: Quantum coherence effects such as electromagnetically induced transparency can be used for a multitude of linear and nonlinear optics. I will introduce two novel applications in order to demonstrate potential uses of these ideas: First, how to electromagnetically induce chirality and how to use it to create media with negative refraction, as needed, for example, for the so-called "superlens"? Second, how can one utilize the long-range interaction of dipolar molecules to create a quantum computer based on either single particles or molecular ensembles?