Superluminal light pulse propagation via rephasing in a transparent anomalously dispersive medium

doi:10.1364/OE.8.000344

Optics Express

Editor: J. H. Eberly
Vol. 8, Iss. 6 — Mar. 12, 2001
pp: 344–350

Superluminal light pulse propagation via rephasing in a transparent anomalously dispersive medium

Arthur Dogariu, Alexander Kuzmich, H. Cao, and L. Wang »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 8, Issue 6, pp. 344-350 (2001)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.8.000344

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Abstract

We study the propagation of light pulses through a transparent anomalous dispersion medium where the group velocity of the pulse exceeds c and can even become negative. Because the medium is transparent, we can apply the Kelvin’s method of stationary phase to obtain the general properties of the pulse propagation process for interesting conditions when the group velocity: U<c,U=±∞, and even becomes negative: U<0. A numerical simulation illustrating pulse propagation at a negative group velocity is also presented. We show how rephasing can produce these unusual pulse propagation phenomena.

[Optical Society of America ]

OCIS Codes
(020.1670) Atomic and molecular physics : Coherent optical effects
(270.5530) Quantum optics : Pulse propagation and temporal solitons

ToC Category:
Research Papers

History
Original Manuscript: January 25, 2001
Published: March 12, 2001

Citation
Arthur Dogariu, Alexander Kuzmich, H. Cao, and L. Wang, "Superluminal light pulse propagation via rephasing in a transparent anomalously dispersive medium," Opt. Express 8, 344-350 (2001)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-8-6-344

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References

L. J. Wang, A. Kuzmich, and A. Dogariu, “Gain-assisted superluminal light propagation,” Nature 406, 277- 279 (2000) [and references therein]. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Dogariu, A. Kuzmich, and L. J. Wang, “Transparent anomalous dispersion and superluminal pulse propagation at a negative group velocity,” Phys. Rev. A. (to be published).
R. Y. Chiao, “Superluminal (but causal) propagation of wave packets in transparent media with inverted atomic populations,” Phys. Rev. A 48, R34-R37 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. L. Bolda, R. Y. Chiao, and J. C. Garrison, “Two theorems for the group velocity in dispersive media,” Phys.Rev.A48, 3890-3894 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. M. Steinberg, and R. Y. Chiao, “Dispersionless, highly superluminal propagation in a medium with a gain doublet,” Phys. Rev. A 49, 2071-2075 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. Bolda, J. C. Garrison, and R. Y. Chiao, “Optical pulse propagation at negative group velocities due to a nearby gain line,” Phys. Rev. A 49, 2938-2947 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. Y. Chiao, “Population inversion and superluminality,” in Amazing Light, a Volume Dedicated to C. H. Townes on His Eightieth Birthday, (Springer, New York, 1996).
C. G. B. Garrett and D. E. McCumber, “Propagation of a Gaussian pulse through an anomalous dispersion medium,”Phys.Rev.A1, 305-313 (1970). [CrossRef]
S. Chu and S. Wong, “Linear pulse propagation in an absorbing medium,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 48, 738-741 (1982). [CrossRef]
B L. Brillouin, Wave Propagation and Group Velocity (Academic Press, New York, 1960), Chapter 1 has a detailed description of Kelvin’s method of stationary phase.
Segev, P. W. Milonni, J. F. Babb, and R. Y. Chiao, “Quantum noise and superluminal propagation” Phys. Rev. A 62, 022114 (2000). [CrossRef]
A. Kuzmich, A. Dogariu, L. J. Wang, P. W. Milonni, and R. Y. Chiao, “Signal velocity, causality, and quantum noise in superluminal light propagation,” Phys. Rev. Lett. (to be published) http:/xxx. lanl.gov/abs/physics/0101068.
K. MacDonald, “Negative Group Velocity,” Am. J. Phys. (to be published), http:/xxx.lanl.gov/abs/physics/0008013.
J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics (Wiley, New York, 1974, 2 nd Edition), p 316-317.
L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Pergamon, Oxford, 1960), §84.

Other

L. J. Wang, A. Kuzmich, and A. Dogariu, “Gain-assisted superluminal light propagation,” Nature 406, 277- 279 (2000) [and references therein]. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Dogariu, A. Kuzmich, and L. J. Wang, “Transparent anomalous dispersion and superluminal pulse propagation at a negative group velocity,” Phys. Rev. A. (to be published).
R. Y. Chiao, “Superluminal (but causal) propagation of wave packets in transparent media with inverted atomic populations,” Phys. Rev. A 48, R34-R37 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. L. Bolda, R. Y. Chiao, and J. C. Garrison, “Two theorems for the group velocity in dispersive media,” Phys.Rev.A48, 3890-3894 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. M. Steinberg, and R. Y. Chiao, “Dispersionless, highly superluminal propagation in a medium with a gain doublet,” Phys. Rev. A 49, 2071-2075 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. Bolda, J. C. Garrison, and R. Y. Chiao, “Optical pulse propagation at negative group velocities due to a nearby gain line,” Phys. Rev. A 49, 2938-2947 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. Y. Chiao, “Population inversion and superluminality,” in Amazing Light, a Volume Dedicated to C. H. Townes on His Eightieth Birthday, (Springer, New York, 1996).
C. G. B. Garrett and D. E. McCumber, “Propagation of a Gaussian pulse through an anomalous dispersion medium,”Phys.Rev.A1, 305-313 (1970). [CrossRef]
S. Chu and S. Wong, “Linear pulse propagation in an absorbing medium,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 48, 738-741 (1982). [CrossRef]
B L. Brillouin, Wave Propagation and Group Velocity (Academic Press, New York, 1960), Chapter 1 has a detailed description of Kelvin’s method of stationary phase.
Segev, P. W. Milonni, J. F. Babb, and R. Y. Chiao, “Quantum noise and superluminal propagation” Phys. Rev. A 62, 022114 (2000). [CrossRef]
A. Kuzmich, A. Dogariu, L. J. Wang, P. W. Milonni, and R. Y. Chiao, “Signal velocity, causality, and quantum noise in superluminal light propagation,” Phys. Rev. Lett. (to be published) http:/xxx. lanl.gov/abs/physics/0101068.
K. MacDonald, “Negative Group Velocity,” Am. J. Phys. (to be published), http:/xxx.lanl.gov/abs/physics/0008013.
J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics (Wiley, New York, 1974, 2 nd Edition), p 316-317.
L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Pergamon, Oxford, 1960), §84.

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