University of Australia Slows Light to 670 mph

In summary, scientists at the University of Australia have found a way to slow down light by passing it through a medium that continuously absorbs and emits the photons, effectively increasing the time it takes for light to travel from one point to another. This is due to the refractive index of the medium and does not actually change the speed of light itself. This discovery has potential implications for faster computing speeds.
  • #1
scott1
350
1
at the Univeisty of Austrilla they found a way slow down light:confused:They slowed it down from 670 millies per hour to 670 miles per hour :confused:
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392702
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
What exactly is so shocking about this?
 
  • #3
inha said:
What exactly is so shocking about this?
I'am confused how are you soppesed to slow light Einstien said you couldn't
 
  • #4
scott1 said:
I'am confused how are you soppesed to slow light Einstien said you couldn't

I haven't read the link but I'm assuming they aren't - the light is traveling at c but it's continually absorbed and emmitted by electrons in the medium it's being passed through, so it takes significantly longer to get from A to B, effectively 'slowing' the speed the light takes to travel the distance.

That's why the speed of light in air is slower than the speed of light in a vacuum (iirc particles produced by high energy cosmic rays can actually travel faster than light in air, producing some kind of shockwave akin to that of a sonic boom)
 
  • #5
Just some guy said:
iirc particles produced by high energy cosmic rays can actually travel faster than light in air, producing some kind of shockwave akin to that of a sonic boom

Yup, it's called Cherenkov radiation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov_effect
 
  • #6
The idea of puting the nuclear spin usage into computesr is inegnious. I mean, you think we have fast comptuers now, just think about getting the computations that take several minutes today, take less than a millionth of a second! Shwew!
 
  • #7
scott1 said:
I'am confused how are you soppesed to slow light Einstien said you couldn't

No, he said the speed of light in vacuum is the same to all observers, irrespective of how fast they are moving relative to one another. That's a completely different thing from what's happening here.
 
  • #8
HallsofIvy said:
No, he said the speed of light in vacuum is the same to all observers, irrespective of how fast they are moving relative to one another. That's a completely different thing from what's happening here.

the speed of light is the same in any medium. The reason it appear slower is because of absorption and the reemition of a new ray.
 
  • #9
michael879 said:
the speed of light is the same in any medium. The reason it appear slower is because of absorption and the reemition of a new ray.


In other words, light only travels in a vacuum. A single photon does not push through matter.

Transparent matter let's light through, because its particles absorb the photons as they come in, then emit another one out the other side.

This absorbing and emitting takes time, and the resulting slowdown is called the "refractive index" of the matter.

But the light itself, the photons, only ever travel at full lightspeed.
 
Last edited:

What is the significance of slowing light to 670 mph at the University of Australia?

The significance of this accomplishment is that it breaks the previous record for slowing light, which was set at 300 mph. This provides scientists with a better understanding of how light behaves and could potentially lead to advancements in fields such as telecommunications and quantum computing.

How did the University of Australia slow light to 670 mph?

The scientists at the University of Australia used a technique called "coherent population oscillation" to slow down light. This involves using a special type of crystal and laser beams to manipulate the properties of light and slow it down.

Why is slowing down light important in scientific research?

Slowing down light allows scientists to study its behavior and properties in more detail. This can lead to a better understanding of fundamental physics principles and potentially lead to new technologies and advancements in various industries.

How does slowing down light affect its properties?

Slowing down light can change its wavelength and frequency, which in turn affects its energy and behavior. This can have significant impacts on how light interacts with matter and can lead to new discoveries and applications in science and technology.

What are the potential applications of this research?

The research conducted at the University of Australia could have various applications in fields such as telecommunications, quantum computing, and high-precision measurements. It could also pave the way for new technologies that utilize the properties of slowed light for various purposes.

Similar threads

Replies
38
Views
3K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Materials and Chemical Engineering
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • Cosmology
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
11
Views
1K
Replies
235
Views
16K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
25
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
938
Back
Top