Focus
Slow light
- Focus issue:
- August 2008 Volume 2 No 8 pp447-509
Control over the velocity of light pulses leads to a host of exciting opportunities. In this special issue of Nature Photonics, we present a collection of articles that describe the evolution of the field, the fundamental physics and the different approaches that are developing.
Editorial
Taking things slow - pp447
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.137
Full text - Information storage | PDF (151KB) - Information storage
Commentaries
Why do we need slow light? pp448 - 450
Thomas F. Krauss
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.139
The extreme speed at which light moves, and the fact that photons do not tend to interact with transparent matter, is of enormous benefit to mankind. It allows us to see deep into the Universe and to transmit data over long distances in optical fibres. So, why slow light down?
Full text -Why do we need slow light? | PDF (433KB) - Why do we need slow light?
Optical information processing in Bose�Einstein condensates pp451 - 453
Lene Vestergaard Hau
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.140
Slow-light effects in ultracold atom clouds known as Bose�Einstein condensates offer rich opportunities for storing and processing optical signals.
Full text -Optical information processing in Bose�Einstein condensates | PDF (514KB) - Optical information processing in Bose�Einstein condensates
Interview
Slow light now and then - pp454 - 455
Interview with Robert Boyd
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.148
What are the origins of slow-light research and where is the field heading? Nature Photonics spoke to Robert Boyd to find out.
Full text - Slow light now and then | PDF (163KB) - Slow light now and then
Reviews
Slow light in photonic crystals - pp465 - 473
Toshihiko Baba
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.146
Abstract - The emergence of spin electronics in data storage | Full text - Slow light in photonic crystals | PDF (1,804KB) - Slow light in photonic crystals
Slow and fast light in optical fibres - pp474 - 481
Luc Thévenaz
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.147
Abstract - The emergence of spin electronics in data storage | Full text - Slow and fast light in optical fibres | PDF (790KB) - Slow and fast light in optical fibres