Using BEC to Slow Down Light
Why Physics Stack Exchange recommends it
Physics Stack Exchange users link it as the concrete demonstration of slowed light when asking follow-up questions about photons, media, and what slow light means.
Recommended by 0 people across 0 different months, 2013 to 2019.
What it is
A 3.5-minute clip from the 2007 NOVA documentary "Absolute Zero" showing Lene Vestergaard Hau at Harvard using a Bose-Einstein condensate to slow a light pulse to walking or cycling speed, and later to stop it entirely. It is uploaded by Carey McGleish and mixes narration with lab footage.
What people said
Cites hello_there_andy · 2013-11 · Physics Stack Exchange · on “Concentration of photons: How many can you slow down in a given unit of space?”
Being able to slow down light to the speed of a bicicle as shown in this vid [this video] : [this video] Led to a question: Given a unit of space e.g. 1cm^3, and then you slowed down light as it enters that unit of space, how many photons can you fit in that space? Is there a maximum photon concentration limit?
Cites Gert · 2015-10 · Physics Stack Exchange · on “What role does wavelength play in the identity of a photon?”
Firstly, $E=hf$ is always true for electromagnetic radiation like light. In vacuum the speed of light is always $c$, so that in vacuum: $c=\lambda f$. In any transparent medium, other than vacuum, light slows down to $v<c$ and we define the refractive index $n$ of that medium as: $n=\frac{c}{v}$. With $E=hf$ and (in a medium other than vacuum) $v=\lambda f$, then: $\large{\lambda=\frac{vh}{E}}$ and since as $v < c$, wavelength is reduced in a medium other than vacuum. Does this mean that a photon would appear red in color regardless of how short or long its wavelength is, so long as its energy corresponds with that of red light??? Yes, the perceived colour is only affected by the energy of t
Cites Just a coder · 2019-04 · Physics Stack Exchange · on “If the Earth is moving, then how is it possible to slow down light?”
Given the following: Earth is spinning on its axis and also rotating around the sun. Light has no mass and is not affected by our moving atmosphere When we slow down light as is done here [this video] to a mere 38 miles-per-hr, then shouldnt the light move away from us at vast speeds? I understand that light is affected by the earth. But is it affected in such a way that where-ever the earth moves, the light also moves in perfect step with the earth as to give the impression that the earth is stationary? Any links to guide me in the right direction is much appreciated. This question is in relation to future computers using light pulses to operate. Therefore Question: Why doesnt the slowed down li