Generation and Manipulation of Entanglement in Quantum Optical Systems

In this thesis, several new procedures for the generation and manipulation of entangled states in quantum optical systems are introduced. Each is evaluated in terms of realistic models of the imperfect apparatus of any real laboratory implementation. The first half of the thesis considers entanglement generation in Cavity QED, introducing several proposals for the creation of maximally entangled two-qubit states. The second half of the thesis focuses on the manipulation of entangled states of light pulses. In particular, an entanglement distillation procedure for Gaussian states is introduced. This combines a Procrustean protocol for the generation of highly entangled non-Gaussian states, with a "Gaussification" procedure, which allows more highly entangled approximately Gaussian states to be distilled from a non-Gaussian supply.