My teaching was centered on quantum mechanics and its applications, mainly in quantum optics and in the domain of atom manipulation and cooling. It took place at Ecole polytechnique (courses PHY311 and PHY432) and at Ecole normale supérieure (level M1 and M2).

Second year course in physics
The second year course PHY432 is an optional course which consists in a set of lectures on quantum mechanics (lectures by Jean Dalibard) and another set on statistical physics (lectures by Marc Mézard). In 2006, this course was attended by 80% of the students. The quantum mechanics course starts with the basic principles of the theory and their illustrations with simple systems. Then it addresses problems involving several degrees of freedom, which leads naturally to the quantization of angular momentum and the notion of spin. These concepts are illustrated by examples in atomic physics, magnetic resonance, and entangled states (with a discussion of EPR paradox and Bell inequalities). Finally, the investigation of systems of identical particles and of the Pauli principle provides a natural step towards statistical physics.

The quantum mechanics course of Ecole polytechnique and the corresponding problem set are published by Springer:
Quantum Mechanics, Jean-Louis-Basdevant, Jean Dalibard, with a CD (and a web site) by Manuel Joffre
The Quantum Solver, Jean-Louis-Basdevant and Jean Dalibard

Quantum coherence and dissipation
In this course we discuss several physical situations wich originate from quantum optics, atomic physics or condensed matter physics, where quantum coherence plays an important role. Using simple examples we show that coherence is related to the existence of several indistinguishable paths for the history of a quantum system. Decoherence resulting from the coupling between the system and its environment is discussed in terms of master equation for the density matrix, and in terms of stochastic wave functions. We explain the origin of the fragility of superposition of states involving macroscopic objects, the so-called "Schrödinger cats". Finally we address the notion of phase for a quantum coherent system such as a Bose-Einstein condensate, and we discuss some recent experimental results in this domain.

This course is part of the Formation interuniversitaire de physique (Paris VI, Paris VII, Paris XI, ENS).

Cold atoms.
This course presents the principles and the practical implementation of the recent methods which have been developed for cooling atoms by light, and for trapping charged and neutral particles using electromagnetic fields. Then it explores some spectacular applications of the research field: degenerate quantum gases, Bose-Einstein condensation, atom interferometry. The course is part of the Master "Sciences & Technologie, Concepts fondamentaux de la physique".

Advanced quantum mechanics.
This course, taught from 1990 to 2000 at the "DEA de Physique Quantique", is devoted to systems of identical particles and second quantization, to the treatment of time-dependent problems, and to scattering theory.