During both childhood and adulthood people are amused by toys, the only difference being in their level of sophistication and manoevrability. The older the player, the fancier the toy and so it goes in quantum physics. The present level of experimental sophistication allows physicists to explore domains unimaginable just a decade ago and to test the most fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. This has led to renewed interest in devising new tests, experiments and devices where it is possible to observe the interaction and localization of just a few atoms and/or a few photons. These techniques have been used to reveal new nonclassical effects, to question the limit of the principle of correspondence and to force quantum behaviour in semiconductors; in other words, an entire new class of quantum toys. "Quantum Dynamics of Simple Systems" should provide a useful tool for graduate students as well as experienced physicists and contains contributions from many leading experts in the field of quantum systems. The main objective is to provide an overview of the present range of quantum toys and to instruct newcomers in their use and exotic behaviours.
In this respect it covers specific subjects of quantum dynamics in a competent and detailed way with the emphasis upon simple systems where few atoms or electrons are involved.