Refraction of space-time wave packets: II. Experiments at normal incidence

TL;DR

This paper experimentally verifies novel refraction phenomena of space-time wave packets at normal incidence, including group-velocity invariance and inversion, across various optical materials, expanding understanding of their propagation physics.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental confirmation of theoretical predictions regarding the refraction behavior of space-time wave packets at a planar interface.

Findings

Observation of group-velocity invariance and inversion.

Verification of normal and anomalous refraction phenomena.

Analysis of spectral support domain dynamics on the light-cone.

Abstract

The refraction of space-time (ST) wave packets offers many fascinating surprises with respect to conventional pulsed beams. In paper (I) of this sequence, we described theoretically the refraction of all families of ST wave packets at normal and oblique incidence at a planar interface between two non-dispersive, homogeneous, isotropic dielectrics. Here, in paper (II) of this sequence, we present experimental verification of the novel refractive phenomena predicted for `baseband' ST wave packets upon normal incidence on a planar interface. Specifically, we observe group-velocity invariance, normal and anomalous refraction, and group-velocity inversion leading to group-delay cancellation. These phenomena are verified in a set of optical materials with refractive indices ranging from 1.38 to 1.76, including MgF$_2$, fused silica, BK7 glass, and sapphire. We also provide a geometrical representation of the physics associated with anomalous refraction in terms of the dynamics of the spectral support domain for ST wave packets on the surface of the light-cone.