Speed of light drops to zero at 'exceptional points'(phys.org)
phys.org
Speed of light drops to zero at 'exceptional points'
https://phys.org/news/2018-01-exceptional.html
10 comments
Would a wave of light that's stopped be visible?
I'd imagine that light can't reflect off of light. And isn't light only visible to us when it enters our eyes?
I'd imagine that light can't reflect off of light. And isn't light only visible to us when it enters our eyes?
Perhaps you could pass your eye through the light and see a brief flash when you reach it?
No because that would require some form of energy transfer. To observe the state of the system you have to take energy from it. I suspect your very presence would likely be a big contributor to this not working to start with too.
Disclaimer: I am not a physicist; merely an engineer.
Disclaimer: I am not a physicist; merely an engineer.
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"To release the stopped light and accelerate it back up to normal speed, the scientists showed that the gain/loss parameters can simply be reversed."
Seems like this would be highly useful for light transistors and signal synchronization in an optical computer...
Or even better... timing other types of electromagnetic waves...
Seems like this would be highly useful for light transistors and signal synchronization in an optical computer...
Or even better... timing other types of electromagnetic waves...
Could this be used to store energy in the form of light?
What are the implications of this? Does it mean the speed of light is not constant after all? Does it mean relativity theory needs to be revised?
> The researchers also expect that this method can be used for other types of waves besides light, such as acoustic waves.
They should try it on gravitational waves next time.
> The researchers also expect that this method can be used for other types of waves besides light, such as acoustic waves.
They should try it on gravitational waves next time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msVuCEs8Ydo
Don't get these two things mixed up: