Massimo Inguscio, Full Professor, University of Florence & LENS European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy,Leonardo Fallani, Assistant Professor, University of Florence & LENS European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy

Massimo Inguscio has worked as an Assistant Professor in Physics at Universities of Pisa and Lecce (1976-1980), Associated Professor at University of Pisa (1980-1986), and Full Professor in Physics at Universities of Napoli (1986-1990) and Firenze (since 1991). He has served as director of LENS (European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy) and of the Department for Materials and Devices of CNR (National Research Council). He has a long-standing experience of experimental research in atomic, molecular and optical physics, quantum optics, light-matter interaction, laser cooling, quantum simulation with ultracold quantum gases, and the development of spectroscopic instrumentation. For his research he has been awarded several prizes, including the Humboldt Research Award (2004), the "Enrico Fermi" Prize from Italian Physical Society (2004), and the Grand Prix Scientifique de l'Academie de Sciences de l'Institut de France (2005).

Leonardo Fallani obtained his PhD in Physics from the University of Florence in 2005, and now works as an Assistant Professor in Physics at University of Florence (since 2007). He has long-standing experience of experimental research in atomic physics, high-precision spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, laser cooling, and quantum simulation with ultracold quantum gases. He is the author of more than 40 publications in international journals and books (with more than 1500 citations and h-index 17) and editor of 1 book.

"This book illuminates the extraordinary evolution of atomic physics during the past decades, and it leads the reader to the fast-moving frontier of current research. The text conveys the fascination and excitement of the field through the eyes of pioneering researchers, so that it can provide inspiration to students and seasoned colleagues alike." -- From the Foreword by Theodor W. Hänsch, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

"Atomic Physics provides an expert guide to two spectacular new landscapes in physics: precision measurements, which have been revolutionized by the advent of the optical frequency comb, and atomic physics, which has been revolutionized by laser cooling. These advances are not incremental but transformative: they have generated a consilience between atomic and many-body physics, precipitated an explosion of scientific and technological applications, opened new areas of research, and attracted a brilliant generation of younger scientists. The research is advancing so rapidly, the barrage of applications is so dazzling, that students can be bewildered. For both students and experienced scientists, this book provides an invaluable description of basic principles, experimental methods, and scientific applications." -- Daniel Kleppner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"This highly recommended, clearly written, carefully illustrated and referenced book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students." --Optics & Photonics News