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Study of Pulse Delaying and Advancement in Optical Fibers Using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (CAT#: STEM-ST-0124-YJL)

Introduction

Experiments have demonstrated the possibility of optically changing the group velocity of an optical pulse as it travels through a material. These experiments have shown that it is possible to slow the speed of light up to nearly stopping it and also faster-than-light propagation of the pulse envelope (although not its information) has been demonstrated . The possibility of slowing or advancing light in optical fibers is very interesting since it can be potentially used for the development of fast-access memories and optically-controlled delay lines which would be compatible with fiber-optic communication systems.




Principle

From a quantum point of view, Brillouin scattering is an interaction of light photons with acoustic or vibrational quanta (phonons), with magnetic spin waves (magnons), or with other low frequency quasiparticles interacting with light. The interaction consists of an inelastic scattering process in which a phonon or magnon is either created (Stokes process) or annihilated (anti-Stokes process). The energy of the scattered light is slightly changed, that is decreased for a Stokes process and increased for an anti-Stokes process. This shift, known as the Brillouin shift, is equal to the energy of the interacting phonon and magnon and thus Brillouin scattering can be used to measure phonon and magnon energies.

Applications

Brillouin scattering is used to determine acoustic velocities and elastic properties of a number of crystalline solids, glasses, and liquids.

Procedure

1. Sample preparation
2. Measurement by scattering detection instrument
3. Data analysis

Materials

Brillouin scattering measurement system (Brillouin spectrometer)