Contribution to Entanglement Theory, Applications in Atomic Systems and Cavity QED

We introduce in this thesis two entanglement detection criteria, the Schrödinger-Robertson partial transpose inequality, which can be implemented experimentally in a variety of systems and generalized N-qubit concurrences, which can be used to evaluate multipartite entanglement in N-qubit mixed states. Then, we investigate ways to experimentally produce entanglement by giving a theoretical model which successfully describes the dipole blockade effect. We study its possible applications in systems of two and three two-level atoms as well as its relations with the EITeffect in systems of two three-level atoms. Finally, we show the possibility of two-photon processes in a system of two two-level atoms embedded in a cavity by using perturbation theory and a full master equation approach. We unveil interesting features of blockade and transparency in such cavity QED systems.