Open AccessPractical tests for distinguishing slow light from saturable absorption
Author(s) -
A. C. Selden
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.013204
Subject(s) - saturable absorption , optics , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , slow light , materials science , absorption (acoustics) , light beam , polarization (electrochemistry) , physics , laser , chemistry , fiber laser , photonic crystal , quantum mechanics
A series of practical tests of slow light (light with reduced group velocity) in saturable absorbers is proposed. These include experimental tests for saturable absorption, which can mimic slow light effects in saturable media, the dependence of slow light on the mutual coherence of pump and probe, since both slow and fast light effects can be simulated with incoherent sources, and the influence of polarization. The principal requirements for practical observation of spectral hole burning are reviewed and shown to be achievable for a wide range of saturable media with the narrow line sources now available.