Following his PhD, Warren Nagourney undertook postdoctoral research at Columbia Radiation Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, after which he joined the physics department of the University of Washington as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in 1977. He remained with the department until his retirement, as a Research Professor, in 2007.

Quantum Electronics for Atomic Physics provides a course in quantum electronics for researchers in atomic physics. The book covers the usual topics, such as Gaussian beams, cavities, lasers, nonlinear optics and modulation techniques, but also includes a number of areas not usually found in a textbook on quantum electronics. It includes such practical matters as the enhancement of nonlinear processes in a build-up cavity, impedance matching into a cavity, laser frequency stabilization (including servomechanism theory), astigmatism in ring cavities, and atomic/molecular spectroscopic techniques for the generation of a discriminant for laser frequency locking. A number of very recent developments are discussed, such as fiber lasers and frequency metrology using femtosecond lasers. Problem sets are included at the end of each chapter.