Observation of Slowed Light Through a Ruby Window

Wisniewski-Barker, E., Gibson, G. , Franke-Arnold, S. , Shi, Z., Boyd, R. W. and Padgett, M. J. (2013) Observation of Slowed Light Through a Ruby Window. In: SPIE OPTO 2013, San Francisco, California, United States, 2-7 February 2013, (doi: 10.1117/12.2003738)

Abstract

A high-intensity laser pulse can lead to a change of the group index of a material, so that the pulse within that material is slowed to only hundreds of meters per second. This kind of slow-light phenomenon scales with the optical intensity of the pulse. While previous experiments have produced this effect with an elliptical beam passing through a spinning ruby window, a question remains as to whether the effect would be present in a circular beam. Here we use two different methods of producing slow light in a round beam, showing that, while less pronounced than the effect with an elliptical beam, a slow-light effect can be seen in a round beam.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gibson, Dr Graham and Franke-Arnold, Professor Sonja and Padgett, Professor Miles
• Authors: Wisniewski-Barker, E., Gibson, G., Franke-Arnold, S., Shi, Z., Boyd, R. W., and Padgett, M. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy