Does slowing light with a BEC change any of its properties?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of slowing light using Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) on its properties, specifically focusing on whether the frequency or wavelength of the light changes during or after passing through the BEC. The scope includes theoretical implications and conceptual understanding of light behavior in different mediums.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that light can be slowed using BECs and questions whether this process alters the frequency or wavelength of the light while it is in the condensate or after it exits.
  • The same participant speculates that slowing the light might temporarily change its properties or that energy loss to the medium could affect the wavelength.
  • Another participant shares a link to an article, but there are issues with the link's accessibility, leading to confusion among participants.
  • After resolving the link issue, a participant expresses amazement at the article's content and suggests that the wavelength and frequency of the light remain unchanged upon exiting the BEC, although they acknowledge the light may be weaker.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the properties of light change as it passes through a BEC, with some suggesting it remains the same while others propose that there may be temporary changes or energy loss effects.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the assumptions about energy loss and the specific conditions under which light is slowed in a BEC, as well as the implications of light being "weaker" after passing through.

AamsterC2
Messages
51
Reaction score
4
So I understand that scientists have been able to slow light to extremely low speeds using Bose-Einstein Condensates and even without them (https://physics.aps.org/story/v3/st37) and if I understand this correctly they slow light the same way water or air does; atoms absorb the photons and re-emit them which makes it take longer for the light to travel through the substance. My question is, does this process change the frequency or wavelength of the light while it is moving through, or after it has fully passed through the BEC? My assumption is that being slowed to such a degree in the condensate would possibly change some of the lights properties temporarily or that some amount of energy is lost to the substance as heat which would change the wavelength of the light
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ISamson
Physics news on Phys.org
AamsterC2 said:
That just gives me a runtime error both on internet explorer and google chrome. Is the link correct?

It works for me!

Zz.
 
Zz's link works on Firefox for me too.
 
ZapperZ said:
It works for me!

Zz.
Ok, it worked this time (not sure why it didn't at first). That article is absolutely amazing, I mean my mind is being blown right now whoa. And although the topic was slightly different I'm guessing from that the wavelength and frequency of the light when it comes out is the same as when it went it, the light itself is just a little weaker (unless that is only caused when the light is stored in the crystal)
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
10K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
12K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
7K