Observation of simultaneous fast and slow light

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a microresonator system that can generate both fast and slow light simultaneously, using a silica microsphere and orthogonal polarization modes, with potential applications in optical networks.

Contribution

It introduces a novel microresonator-based approach for producing simultaneous fast and slow light pulses, combining spectral features and polarization modes.

Findings

Successful experimental proof-of-concept with silica microsphere

Demonstration of simultaneous time-advanced and delayed pulses

Potential for integration into all-optical network systems

Abstract

We present a microresonator-based system capable of simultaneously producing time-advanced and time-delayed pulses. The effect is based on the combination of a sharp spectral feature with two orthogonally-polarized propagating waveguide modes. We include an experimental proof-of-concept implementation using a silica microsphere coupled to a tapered optical fiber and use a time-domain picture to interpret the observed delays. We also discuss potential applications for future all-optical networks.