Fast light, slow light, and phase singularities: a connection to generalized weak values.
We demonstrate that Aharonov-Albert-Vaidman weak values have a direct relationship with the response function of a system, and have a much wider range of applicability in both the classical and quantum domains than previously thought. Using this idea, we have built an optical system, based on a birefringent photonic crystal, with an infinite number of weak values. In this system, the propagation speed of a polarized light pulse displays both superluminal and slow light behavior with a sharp transition between the two regimes. We show that this system's response possesses two-dimensional, vortex-antivortex phase singularities. Important consequences for optical signal processing are discussed.
Department of Physics, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7300, USA.
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Solli
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McCormick
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Chiao
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Popescu
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Hickmann