First observation of ultraslow group velocity of light in a solid
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abstract
We report ultraslow group velocities of light in a solid. Light speeds as slow as 45 m/s were observed, corresponding to a group delay of 66 s in a 3-mm thick, optically dense crystal of Pr doped Y2SiO5. Reduction of the group velocity is accomplished by using a sharp spectral feature in absorption and dispersion that is produced by resonance Raman excitation of a ground-state spin coherence. Potential applications of slow and stopped light for the highly efficient storage and recall of optical data are discussed.