Observation of backward pulse propagation through a medium with a negative group velocity
George M Gehring1, Aaron Schweinsberg, Christopher Barsi
1Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. gehring@optics.rochester.edu
Abstract:
The nature of pulse propagation through a material with a negative value of the group velocity has been mysterious, as simple models seem to predict that pulses will propagate "backward" through such a material. Using an erbium-doped optical fiber and measuring the time evolution of the pulse intensity at many points within the fiber, we demonstrate that the peak of the pulse does propagate backward inside the fiber, even though the energy flow is always in the forward direction.
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