该系在量子光学和量子信息方面的研究范围从光的量子性质的基础研究到量子信息处理中的应用主题。当前，有一些研究工作集中在量子成像和量子光刻的基本物理学上，以及非局部效应，量子纠缠和违反贝勒斯不等式和狭义相对论的检验。另外，重点在于用于光学方法的量子计算和量子通信系统的量子逻辑器件的开发。我们在这些领域的研究因使用参数下转换，非局部干涉仪和重影成像的开拓性工作的悠久历史而得到加强。UMBC系的成员从事理论和实验研究，该系拥有数个配备齐全的量子光学实验室，其中包括大量的激光系统，单光子计数器，高速电子设备和计算机
The department's research in quantum optics and quantum information ranges from fundamental investigations of the quantum nature of light, to applied topics in quantum information processing. There are currently research efforts focused on the basic physics of quantum imaging and quantum lithography, as well as nonlocal effects, quantum entanglement and violations of Bell's inequalities and tests of special relativity. In addition, there is an emphasis on the development of quantum logic devices for an optical approach to quantum computing and quantum communication systems. Our research in these areas is strengthened by a long history of pioneering work in the use of parametric down-conversion, nonlocal interferometery and ghost imaging. Members of the UMBC faculty are engaged in both theoretical and experimental research, and the department holds several fully equipped quantum optics laboratories with numerous laser systems, single-photon counters, high-speed electronics and computerized data acquisition systems.