arXiv:physics/0506199 · Physical Review A
Storage and retrieval of light pulses in atomic media with “slow” and “fast” light
A. Lezama, A. M. Akulshin, Andrei I. Sidorov, Peter Hannaford
Abstract
We report experimental evidence that light storage, understood as the controlled release of a light pulse by an atomic sample dependent on the past presence of a writing pulse, is not restricted to small-group-velocity media but can also occur in a negative-group-velocity medium. We present a numerical modeling in close agreement with our observations and a simple physical picture applicable to light storage experiments in both ``slow'' and ``fast'' light media.