Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Observing 'back-to-the-future' phenomenon with photonic chip

Henri P. Uranus, Leimeng Zhuang, Chris G. H. Roeloffzen, H.J.W.M. Hoekstra

Published Sep 1, 2008• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

The possibility to engineer the group velocity $(v_g)$ of light has attracted much attention in the last couple of years. One of the most exotic phenomena in this research field is the negative $v_g$phenomenon. Negative $v_g$ implies that if we send light pulse into the optical medium, the peak of the output will leave the output before the peak of the input pulse entering the medium, i.e. a pulse 'advancement' or negative delay. This paper will discuss such counter-intuitive 'back-to-the-future' phenomenon and its direct time-domain experimental observations on a real photonic chip using measurement equipments available in a typical optical telecommunication laboratory. Comments on the consistency of the phenomenon with the causality principles as well as possible application will also be briefly discussed.

Related papers

On a Few Problems Related to the Negative Velocities of EM-waves Propagation

Huang Zhi-xun

In last decade,faster-than-light(superluminal) propagation of short waves,microwaves,light waves and THz waves has been studied experimentally in several countries.Many of the attempts to send pulses faster than the speed of light involved a phonomenon called negative-velocities wave propagation.In this paper,we give a bird-eye view of the theoretical and experimental research work on negative-velocities wave propagation.For example and experimentally,a light pulse propagating through the atomic vapor cell has its peak reaching the exit side before entering it,resulting in a negative transit time,and negative group velocity.So that the group velocity vg can be greater than the velocity of light c,can be infinite and even negative.In recent years,many superluminal phenomena of negative-velocities have been discovered in experiments and observations,so we say it is a new frontier in sciences research.

现代传播：中国传媒大学学报•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

Faster-than-light effects and negative group delays in optics and electronics, and their applications

R. Y. Chiao, Jandir M. Hickmann, Daniel R. Solli

Recent manifestations of apparently faster-than-light effects confirmed our predictions that the group velocity in transparent optical media can exceed c. Special relativity is not violated by these phenomena. Moreover, in the electronic domain, the causality principle does not forbid negative group delays of analytic signals in electronic circuits, in which the peak of an output pulse leaves the exit port of a circuit before the peak of the input pulse enters the input port. Furthermore, pulse distortion for these 'superluminal' analytic signal scan be negligible in both the optical and electronic domains. Here we suggest an extension of these ideas to the microelectronic domain. The underlying principle is that negative feedback can be used to produce negative group delays. Such negative group delay scan be used to cancel out the positive group delays due to 'transistor latency' as well as the 'propagation delays' due to the interconnects between transistors. Using this principle, it is possible to speed up computer systems.

arXiv:cs/0103014•Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jul 9, 2001•9 citations

Pulse Transmission across a Single Optical Ring-Resonator with Negative Group Velocity: Theory and Experiment

Henri P. Uranus, Leimeng Zhuang, Chris G. H. Roeloffzen +1 more

We study pulse transmission across a single optical ring-resonator circuit theoretically. The theory is supported by experimental measurements. From the study, we discuss intuitively the fulfillment of the causality rules in negative delay phenomenon, which occurs when the circuit possesses a negative group velocity.

IEEE PhotonicsGlobal•Dec 1, 2008•1 citation

Abnormal EM-waves Propagation in Passive Media

Huang Zhi-xun

Recently,there has been interest in modifying the group velocity of optical pulses,resulting in stopped,slow,and fast(superluminal)light.According to the physical theory,fast appears in the anomalous medium,and then it so called light medium.There are many experimeuts to produce fast light,this situation opens up new perspectives for the so called dispersion engineering.For example,signal propagating with a group velocity that exceeds the speed of light in vacuum(c) is intriguing for scientists.And then,the traveling of short wave pulses,microwave pulses and light pulses with group velocity vg,whose values exceed infinity,so called negative group velocity(NGV) propagation.Such circumstance occurs when the peak of a pulse traveling through DUT,exits before the peak of the input pulse has reached the beginning of DUT.This effect is counterintuitive,but it is a discover under the experimental basis.When the group velocity of light in a material is negative,it is the NGV medium. Although NGV are possible particularly in gain systems,there have been some experimental demonstrations of that phenomenon in passive systems,such as the coaxial cables,waveguides,micro-strip lines,and optical fibers,etc.If the experimental configuration used with a higher impedance mismatch,then it permits larger group delays,and a corresponding NGV.If n is the effective refraction index of the medium,we wantfn |f/ndn/df|1 to obtain the NGV. Many experiments showed the group velocity can surpass the light speed c,but scientists still lack the further understanding of the results.In 2001,Scientists obtained the formula v-e=|T|2vg,where v-e is average energy velocity,T is transmission coeficient of the system.If we want v-ec,the condition is vgc|T|-2.Hence it can be concluded that only vg/c is very large,the energy velocity can surpass c.This demonstration opens the door to interesting possibilities. The definition of signal velocity by Brillouin,mathemalical meaning exceeds physical meaning.We argue that undistorted wave group(wave packet) propagation are the first consideration.According to this viewpoint,the theoretical analysis show that superluminal propagation(i.e.superluminal communication) was observed by authors of many NGV researchers.……The superluminal group velocity wave propagation,the negative group velocity wave propagation——each of the two cases has its own use.Now,scientists do research works in these fields: such as optical communication,squeezed light and quantum entanglement.The condusion tell us that,a hight efficiency and low-loss fast light scheme may explore potential applications.

现代传播：中国传媒大学学报•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations

Light Appearing Before Entry: A τ-Field Prediction of Negative Group Delay

Anwar, Morgan

We present a quantitative prediction from the temporal field model describing how light can appear to exit a medium before entering it. In this framework, local compression of the temporal field alters the effective progression of proper time within the medium, producing an apparent “negative-time” or light-advance effect. Using realistic parameters, we predict a measurable temporal shift of approximately 2.5 ps, consistent with recent quantum-optical experiments. This provides a testable scenario for validating the -field model and offers a novel interpretation of negative group delay phenomena without violating causality or the universal speed limit of light.

•Oct 17, 2025•0 citations

Direct Experimental Observation of Pulse Temporal Behavior in Integrated-Optical Ring-Resonator with Negative Group Velocity

Henri P. Uranus, Leimeng Zhuang, Chris G. H. Roeloffzen +1 more

Abstract: We report a direct experimental observation of pulse temporal behavior in an integrated optical two-port ring-resonator circuit as a function of coupling strength, including the transition across the critical coupling point. We demonstrate the observation of pulse ‘advancement’ in the negative vg regime and pulse delay in the positive vg regime. We also observed a smooth transition of the pulse shape from highly negative to highly positive vg (or vice versa) through a pulse splitting phenomenon. The observed phenomena agree well to theoretical simulations.

Journal of Lightwave Technology•Jan 1, 2007•3 citations
The possibility to engineer the group velocity (vg)(v_g)(vg​) of light has attracted much attention in the last couple of years. One of the most exotic phenomena in this research field is the negative vgv_gvg​phenomenon. Negative vgv_gvg​ implies that if we send light pulse into the optical medium, the peak of the output will leave the output before the peak of the input pulse entering the medium, i.e. a pulse 'advancement' or negative delay. This paper will discuss such counter-intuitive 'back-to-the-future' phenomenon and its direct time-domain experimental observations on a real photonic chip using measurement equipments available in a typical optical telecommunication laboratory. Comments on the consistency of the phenomenon with the causality principles as well as possible application will also be briefly discussed.
In last decade,faster-than-light(superluminal) propagation of short waves,microwaves,light waves and THz waves has been studied experimentally in several countries.Many of the attempts to send pulses faster than the speed of light involved a phonomenon called negative-velocities wave propagation.In this paper,we give a bird-eye view of the theoretical and experimental research work on negative-velocities wave propagation.For example and experimentally,a light pulse propagating through the atomic vapor cell has its peak reaching the exit side before entering it,resulting in a negative transit time,and negative group velocity.So that the group velocity vg can be greater than the velocity of light c,can be infinite and even negative.In recent years,many superluminal phenomena of negative-velocities have been discovered in experiments and observations,so we say it is a new frontier in sciences research.
Recent manifestations of apparently faster-than-light effects confirmed our predictions that the group velocity in transparent optical media can exceed c. Special relativity is not violated by these phenomena. Moreover, in the electronic domain, the causality principle does not forbid negative group delays of analytic signals in electronic circuits, in which the peak of an output pulse leaves the exit port of a circuit before the peak of the input pulse enters the input port. Furthermore, pulse distortion for these 'superluminal' analytic signal scan be negligible in both the optical and electronic domains. Here we suggest an extension of these ideas to the microelectronic domain. The underlying principle is that negative feedback can be used to produce negative group delays. Such negative group delay scan be used to cancel out the positive group delays due to 'transistor latency' as well as the 'propagation delays' due to the interconnects between transistors. Using this principle, it is possible to speed up computer systems.
Recently,there has been interest in modifying the group velocity of optical pulses,resulting in stopped,slow,and fast(superluminal)light.According to the physical theory,fast appears in the anomalous medium,and then it so called light medium.There are many experimeuts to produce fast light,this situation opens up new perspectives for the so called dispersion engineering.For example,signal propagating with a group velocity that exceeds the speed of light in vacuum(c) is intriguing for scientists.And then,the traveling of short wave pulses,microwave pulses and light pulses with group velocity vg,whose values exceed infinity,so called negative group velocity(NGV) propagation.Such circumstance occurs when the peak of a pulse traveling through DUT,exits before the peak of the input pulse has reached the beginning of DUT.This effect is counterintuitive,but it is a discover under the experimental basis.When the group velocity of light in a material is negative,it is the NGV medium. Although NGV are possible particularly in gain systems,there have been some experimental demonstrations of that phenomenon in passive systems,such as the coaxial cables,waveguides,micro-strip lines,and optical fibers,etc.If the experimental configuration used with a higher impedance mismatch,then it permits larger group delays,and a corresponding NGV.If n is the effective refraction index of the medium,we wantfn |f/ndn/df|1 to obtain the NGV. Many experiments showed the group velocity can surpass the light speed c,but scientists still lack the further understanding of the results.In 2001,Scientists obtained the formula v-e=|T|2vg,where v-e is average energy velocity,T is transmission coeficient of the system.If we want v-ec,the condition is vgc|T|-2.Hence it can be concluded that only vg/c is very large,the energy velocity can surpass c.This demonstration opens the door to interesting possibilities. The definition of signal velocity by Brillouin,mathemalical meaning exceeds physical meaning.We argue that undistorted wave group(wave packet) propagation are the first consideration.According to this viewpoint,the theoretical analysis show that superluminal propagation(i.e.superluminal communication) was observed by authors of many NGV researchers.……The superluminal group velocity wave propagation,the negative group velocity wave propagation——each of the two cases has its own use.Now,scientists do research works in these fields: such as optical communication,squeezed light and quantum entanglement.The condusion tell us that,a hight efficiency and low-loss fast light scheme may explore potential applications.
We present a quantitative prediction from the temporal field model describing how light can appear to exit a medium before entering it. In this framework, local compression of the temporal field alters the effective progression of proper time within the medium, producing an apparent “negative-time” or light-advance effect. Using realistic parameters, we predict a measurable temporal shift of approximately 2.5 ps, consistent with recent quantum-optical experiments. This provides a testable scenario for validating the -field model and offers a novel interpretation of negative group delay phenomena without violating causality or the universal speed limit of light.
Abstract: We report a direct experimental observation of pulse temporal behavior in an integrated optical two-port ring-resonator circuit as a function of coupling strength, including the transition across the critical coupling point. We demonstrate the observation of pulse ‘advancement’ in the negative vg regime and pulse delay in the positive vg regime. We also observed a smooth transition of the pulse shape from highly negative to highly positive vg (or vice versa) through a pulse splitting phenomenon. The observed phenomena agree well to theoretical simulations.