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

Journal of Optics A Pure and Applied Optics

Temperature dependence of superluminal and subluminal propagation

Wei Guo

Published Oct 15, 2007• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

When a dielectric medium has a finite temperature, the atoms that constitute the medium are in a state of incessant motion. Propagation of a light pulse through such a medium is discussed theoretically in this paper in the classical domain. When the pulse is in resonance with the medium, it is found that the medium becomes dispersiveless when its temperature reaches a critical value, and that as the medium's temperature increases from below to above the critical value, the pulse's propagation changes from superluminal (subluminal) to subluminal (superluminal).

DOI
10.1088/1464-4258/9/11/010

Related papers

What causes the superluminal propagation of light pulses

Shi‐Yao Zhu, Li‐Gang Wang

In this paper, we discuss what causes the superluminal propagation of a pulse through dispersion by solving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. The coherence of the pulse plays an important role for superluminal propagation. When the pulse becomes partially coherent, the propagation changes from superluminal to subluminal. The energy velocity is always less than the vacuum velocity. The shape of the pulse is changed during the propagation.

Chinese Optics Letters•Jan 20, 2003•2 citations

What Causes the superluminal propagation of light pulses

朱诗尧, 王立刚

In this paper, we discuss what causes the superluminal propagation of a pulse through dispersion by solving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. The coherence of the pulse plays an important role for superluminal propagation. When the pulse becomes partially coherent, the propagation changes from superluminal to subluminal. The energy velocity is always less than the vacuum velocity. The shape of the pulse is changed during the propagation.

Chinese Optics Letters•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations

Time-frequency dynamics of superluminal pulse transition to the subluminal regime

Ahmed H. Dorrah, Abhinav Ramakrishnan, Mo Mojahedi

Spectral reshaping and nonuniform phase delay associated with an electromagnetic pulse propagating in a temporally dispersive medium may lead to interesting observations in which the group velocity becomes superluminal or even negative. In such cases, the finite bandwidth of the superluminal region implies the inevitable existence of a cutoff distance beyond which a superluminal pulse becomes subluminal. In this paper, we derive a closed-form analytic expression to estimate this cutoff distance in abnormal dispersive media with gain. Moreover, the method of steepest descent is used to track the time-frequency dynamics associated with the evolution of the center of mass of a superluminal pulse to the subluminal regime. This evolution takes place at longer propagation depths as a result of the subluminal components affecting the behavior of the pulse. Finally, the analysis presents the fundamental limitations of superluminal propagation in light of factors such as the medium depth, pulse width, and the medium dispersion strength.

Physical Review E•Mar 24, 2015•7 citations

Role of the instantaneous spectrum on pulse propagation in causal linear dielectrics

Justin B. Peatross, Michael J. Ware, Scott Alan Glasgow

A model-independent theorem demonstrates how a causal linear dielectric medium responds to the instantaneous spectrum, that is, the spectrum of the electric field pulse that is truncated at each new instant (as a given locale in the medium experiences the pulse). This process leads the medium to exchange energy with the front of a pulse differently than with the back as the instantaneous spectrum laps onto or off of nearby resonances. So-called superluminal pulse propagation in either absorbing or amplifying media as well as highly subluminal pulse propagation are understood qualitatively and quantitatively within this context.

Journal of the Optical Society of America A•Jul 1, 2001•21 citations

Superluminal propagation of light pulses: A result of interference

Li‐Gang Wang, Nian-hua Liu, Qiang Lin +1 more

The propagation of pulses through dispersive media was investigated by solving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. We show that the superluminal propagation of pulses through anomalous dispersive media is a result of the interference of different frequency components composed of the pulse. The coherence of the pulse plays an important role for the superluminal propagation. With the decrease of the coherence of the pulse, the propagation changes from superluminal to subluminal. We have shown that the anomalous dispersion (the real part of the susceptibility) not the amplification (the imaginary part of the susceptibility) plays the essential role in the superluminal propagation. Although the superluminality always exists as long as the spectrum of the coherent pulse is within the anomalously dispersive region, both the energy propagation velocity and the frontal velocity never exceed the light speed in the vacuum. The output pulse through the medium is not the original pulse; instead it carries the information of the original pulse and the information of the prepared medium.

Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics•Dec 15, 2003•43 citations

Effect of coherence on the superluminal propagation of light pulses through anomalously dispersive media with gain

Li‐Gang Wang, Nian-hua Liu, Qiang Lin +1 more

The propagation of pulses through dispersive media was investigated by solving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. It was demonstrated that the superluminal or subluminal pulse propagation originates essentially from the interference of the different frequency components of the pulse. The coherence of the different frequency components plays an important role in superluminal propagation. When the pulse becomes partially coherent, the propagation changes from superluminal to subluminal. Since superluminality always exists as long as the spectrum of the coherent pulse is within the anomalously dispersive region whatever the shape of the pulse is, such a coherent pulse must be transmitted superluminally.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Dec 1, 2002•23 citations
When a dielectric medium has a finite temperature, the atoms that constitute the medium are in a state of incessant motion. Propagation of a light pulse through such a medium is discussed theoretically in this paper in the classical domain. When the pulse is in resonance with the medium, it is found that the medium becomes dispersiveless when its temperature reaches a critical value, and that as the medium's temperature increases from below to above the critical value, the pulse's propagation changes from superluminal (subluminal) to subluminal (superluminal).
Spectral reshaping and nonuniform phase delay associated with an electromagnetic pulse propagating in a temporally dispersive medium may lead to interesting observations in which the group velocity becomes superluminal or even negative. In such cases, the finite bandwidth of the superluminal region implies the inevitable existence of a cutoff distance beyond which a superluminal pulse becomes subluminal. In this paper, we derive a closed-form analytic expression to estimate this cutoff distance in abnormal dispersive media with gain. Moreover, the method of steepest descent is used to track the time-frequency dynamics associated with the evolution of the center of mass of a superluminal pulse to the subluminal regime. This evolution takes place at longer propagation depths as a result of the subluminal components affecting the behavior of the pulse. Finally, the analysis presents the fundamental limitations of superluminal propagation in light of factors such as the medium depth, pulse width, and the medium dispersion strength.
A model-independent theorem demonstrates how a causal linear dielectric medium responds to the instantaneous spectrum, that is, the spectrum of the electric field pulse that is truncated at each new instant (as a given locale in the medium experiences the pulse). This process leads the medium to exchange energy with the front of a pulse differently than with the back as the instantaneous spectrum laps onto or off of nearby resonances. So-called superluminal pulse propagation in either absorbing or amplifying media as well as highly subluminal pulse propagation are understood qualitatively and quantitatively within this context.
The propagation of pulses through dispersive media was investigated by solving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. We show that the superluminal propagation of pulses through anomalous dispersive media is a result of the interference of different frequency components composed of the pulse. The coherence of the pulse plays an important role for the superluminal propagation. With the decrease of the coherence of the pulse, the propagation changes from superluminal to subluminal. We have shown that the anomalous dispersion (the real part of the susceptibility) not the amplification (the imaginary part of the susceptibility) plays the essential role in the superluminal propagation. Although the superluminality always exists as long as the spectrum of the coherent pulse is within the anomalously dispersive region, both the energy propagation velocity and the frontal velocity never exceed the light speed in the vacuum. The output pulse through the medium is not the original pulse; instead it carries the information of the original pulse and the information of the prepared medium.
The propagation of pulses through dispersive media was investigated by solving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. It was demonstrated that the superluminal or subluminal pulse propagation originates essentially from the interference of the different frequency components of the pulse. The coherence of the different frequency components plays an important role in superluminal propagation. When the pulse becomes partially coherent, the propagation changes from superluminal to subluminal. Since superluminality always exists as long as the spectrum of the coherent pulse is within the anomalously dispersive region whatever the shape of the pulse is, such a coherent pulse must be transmitted superluminally.