  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.
