Algebraic structure and nonclassical properties of the negative hypergeometric state

A new class of the intermediate state of the quantized radiation field, i.e. the negative hypergeometric state (NHGS), is introduced and its algebraic structure and nonclassical properties are investigated. The importance of NHGS lies in the fact that it can help unify such important states as the binomial, negative binomial, coherent, number and quasi-thermal states etc in quantum optics.