Work

Coherent population oscillations and superluminal light in a protein complex

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: We observed superluminal light in aqueous solution of the protein complex bacteriorhodopsin (bR) at 647.1 nm wavelength where it exhibits reverse saturable behavior, exploiting the technique of coherent population oscillations (CPO). With a modulation frequency of 10 Hz, the signal pulse through a 1 cm path cell is ahead by 3 msec relative to the reference pulse, corresponding to a group velocity of -3.3 m/sec. Following our early work on slow light in the same sample at the saturable wavelength 568.2 nm, we now explicitly observed the narrow spectral hole in the absorption band of the stable B state and further, demonstrated a close correlation between the profile of the hole and the corresponding pulse delay for various modulation frequencies. A similar behavior is observed for superluminal light versus antihole blown in the absorption band.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.003844

Authors: Chandra S. Yelleswarapu, Samir Laoui, Reji Philip, D. V. Rao

Institutions: University of Massachusetts Boston, Raman Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Quantum optics and atomic interactions

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funder: U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center