M. : Science, Gl. Red. phys. -mat. lit. , 1988. — 288 s. — ISBN 5-02-013837-1 . Co-operative effects in systems of atoms and molecules interacting through the radiation field. The main attention is paid to the theory of collective spontaneous radiation (superradiation) and its experimental studies. The phenomena of superradiation, non-resonator bistability and other light-induced phase transitions are presented from two points of view - traditional quantum optics and the theory of critical phenomena. The experimental aspects and possible impact of these transitions on the operation of quantum electronics devices are discussed. For physicists - theorists and experimenters, as well as graduate students and students interested in quantum electronics and the problem of cooperative phenomena in optics Short