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Laser & Photonics Review

Slow and fast light: Controlling the speed of light using semiconductor waveguides

Jesper Mørk, F. Öhman, M. van der Poel, Y. Chen, Per Lunnemann, Kresten Yvind

Published Aug 14, 2008• 36 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We give an overview of slow‐ and fast‐light effects in semiconductor active waveguides. Experimental and theoretical results are presented, emphasizing the physics of these phenomena and the limitations imposed by the carrier dynamical processes.
DOI
10.1002/lpor.200810020

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Time shifting of optical pulses with duration in the range from 100 fs to a few ps represents one extreme of slow light, where THz bandwidth for the slow down or speed up is necessary. The physics of the time shifting of such very short pulses involves the gain saturation of the optical medium and is different from the slow-light mechanisms responsible for time shifting of pulses of narrower bandwidth. Experimental and theoretical results with semiconductor components are presented, emphasizing the physics as well as the limitations imposed by the dynamical processes.