Summary
In contrast to the traditional belief that superluminal (exceeding the speed of light in vacuum) velocities are unphysical, a series of recent experiments have shown that superluminal group velocities are measurable, and hence physical. In this work we present the results of two novel experiments in the frequency- and time-domain which demonstrate the above point. Despite this anomalous behavior for group velocity, Einstein causality is not violated. A proof that no “signal” can propagate faster than c is given, however this requires a new definition of the “signal” velocity as it is associated with the points of non-analyticity and Sommerfeld forerunners. In this regard, the form and frequency of oscillation for Sommerfeld forerunner for any material or structural dispersion is derived. It is seen that the setup used to measure superluminal velocities in frequency domain can easily be modified to measure the index of refraction for a dielectric medium or the effective index of refraction for a structures such as photonic crystals. The results of these measurements are presented and the importance of the effective index for a structure and its connection with Einstein causality is discussed.
Read More ↓Edition Statements
- Publication Date:1999
Thesis Information
- Degree:Ph.D.
- University:The University of New Mexico
- Advisor/Supervisor:K. J. Malloy
- Pages:117
Publication Statements
- Language:eng
- Publication Date:1999
Edition Identifiers
- proquest:304513243
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