The Quantum Theory of the Atom Laser

The atom laser is a fundamentally new device for doing physics. It produced a coherent atomic de Broglie wave analogous to the coherent light wave produced by an optical laser. A practical atom laser would revolutionise the field of atom optics. We aim to develop a comprehensive and useful quantum theory of the atom laser. This will require a different theoretical approach to that which worked for optical lasers. The outcome will be a theory which can be used to understand and design atom lasers.