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

Advances in Optical Sciences Congress

Recent Advances in ‘Trapped Rainbow’ Techniques for Stopping Light

Kosmas L. Tsakmakidis, Ortwin G. Hess

Published Jan 1, 2009• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We provide an overview of ‘trapped rainbow’ techniques for stopping light. We show that guided modes with real propagation consrtant and complex frequency can be ‘trapped rainbow’-stopped even in the presence of waveguide losses.
DOI
10.1364/ipnra.2009.jma4

Related papers

‘Trapped Rainbow’ Schemes for Storing Light in Engineered Waveguides

Kosmas L. Tsakmakidis, Ortwin G. Hess

We review recent progress in the realm of ultra-slow and stored light inside metamaterial waveguides. We elucidate a number of critical issues pertaining to the study of light propagation in various slow-light metamaterial structures.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

“Trapped Rainbow”: Stopping of Light in Metamaterials

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks•Aug 30, 2022•0 citations

Rainbow Trapping Effect in Horizontal and Vertical Directions

Yasha Yi

It is known that light can be slowed down in the vicinity of resonances in dispersive materials.5 In order to reduce the group velocity (vg) of light coherently, there are primarily two major approaches employing either electronic or optical resonances. In the electronic scheme, drastic slowing down and complete stopping of light pulses can be accomplished by converting optical signals into electronic coherences.6-9 The use of electronic states to coherently store the optical information, however, imposes severe constraints in the scheme, including narrow bandwidth, limited working wavelengths and strong temperature dependence. While promising steps have been taken towards slowing light in solidstate media and semiconductor nanostructures operating at room temperature,10 it still remains a great challenge to implement such schemes on-a-chip incorporating optoelectronic devices.9 Besides, only a few special and delicate electronic resonances available in nature possess the required properties. As a result, there has been great interest in pursuing alternative approaches utilizing optical resonances in photonic structures, such as microcavities,11photonic crystals,12 semiconductor waveguide ring resonators,13etc. In 2007, researchers in UK proposed a tapered structure based on metamaterial with negative refractive index.14 Theoretically, this structure should be able to slow light to a standstill. The material would halt each frequency of light, and hence color, at slightly different places, to make so called “trapped rainbow” (see Fig. 9.1), which opened a new and attractive approach to stopping light.

•Aug 20, 2015•0 citations

‘Trapped rainbow’ schemes for storing light in engineered waveguides

Tsakmakidis

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

Experimental Observation of the Trapped Rainbow

Igor I. Smolyaninov, Vera N. Smolyaninova, Alexander V. Kildishev +1 more

We report on the experimental demonstration of the broadband “trapped rainbow” in the visible range using an adiabatically tapered waveguide. Being a distinct case of the slow light phenomenon, this effect can enhanced light-matter interactions.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2010•4 citations

Trapped rainbow storage of light in metamaterials

Kosmas L. Tsakmakidis, Edmund I. Kirby, Joachim M. Hamm +1 more

We review recent theoretical and experimental in progress in the realisation of slow and stopped light by the 'trapped rainbow' principle in optical metamaterials featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity/permeability and/or refractive index). We explain how and why these structures can enable complete stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow-light regime where the effective index of the guided wave is negative.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Apr 27, 2010•9 citations
It is known that light can be slowed down in the vicinity of resonances in dispersive materials.5 In order to reduce the group velocity (vg) of light coherently, there are primarily two major approaches employing either electronic or optical resonances. In the electronic scheme, drastic slowing down and complete stopping of light pulses can be accomplished by converting optical signals into electronic coherences.6-9 The use of electronic states to coherently store the optical information, however, imposes severe constraints in the scheme, including narrow bandwidth, limited working wavelengths and strong temperature dependence. While promising steps have been taken towards slowing light in solidstate media and semiconductor nanostructures operating at room temperature,10 it still remains a great challenge to implement such schemes on-a-chip incorporating optoelectronic devices.9 Besides, only a few special and delicate electronic resonances available in nature possess the required properties. As a result, there has been great interest in pursuing alternative approaches utilizing optical resonances in photonic structures, such as microcavities,11photonic crystals,12 semiconductor waveguide ring resonators,13etc. In 2007, researchers in UK proposed a tapered structure based on metamaterial with negative refractive index.14 Theoretically, this structure should be able to slow light to a standstill. The material would halt each frequency of light, and hence color, at slightly different places, to make so called “trapped rainbow” (see Fig. 9.1), which opened a new and attractive approach to stopping light.
We review recent theoretical and experimental in progress in the realisation of slow and stopped light by the 'trapped rainbow' principle in optical metamaterials featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity/permeability and/or refractive index). We explain how and why these structures can enable complete stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow-light regime where the effective index of the guided wave is negative.