Physics (Internal)

Wizardry with light: freeze, teleport, and go!

This event is part of the Physics Department Colloquia Series.

Abstract:

In our laboratory, we routinely slow light to bicycle speed in ultra cold atom clouds. This is a 100 million fold slow down compared to the light speed in vacuum. In the process, light pulses spatially compress by the same large factor, from 1 mile to only 0.001”, at which point they fit entirely within an atom cloud and can be stopped completely for more than a second. In some of our latest experiments, we take matters further: We stop and extinguish a light pulse in one part of space and revive it in a completely different location. The experiments create a new paradigm for control and inter-conversion of light and matter…. and the secret behind the tricks will be revealed in the talk.