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Tim13
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Has there been a previous thread that discusses how light can be slowed?
Thanks,
Tim13
Thanks,
Tim13
Chronos said:Light can be slowed when emitted from a gravitational well. This is not effective for light passing by a gravitational well since it is blue shifted on the way in.
Brainiac2 said:Shooting a laser through super-cooled sodium atoms will slow the light to 34mph.
Tim13 said:If something can be slowed, then perhaps it may also be stopped? Perhaps the properties of light (its duality of wave and particle) are reactive based on environmental conditions? Is the particle nature more dominant in super cooled states and hence the light slows? Is the word "dominant" not the right choice?
Tim13 said:If something can be slowed, then perhaps it may also be stopped? Perhaps the properties of light (its duality of wave and particle) are reactive based on environmental conditions? Is the particle nature more dominant in super cooled states and hence the light slows? Is the word "dominant" not the right choice?
Light travels in the form of electromagnetic waves and it is the fastest known phenomenon in the universe. It needs to be slowed down in certain situations to better study its properties or to control its interaction with matter.
The process of slowing down light is called "light manipulation" and it involves using certain materials or structures to change the speed of light as it travels through them. This can be achieved through techniques such as using lenses, prisms, or optical fibers.
Materials that can slow down light include glass, water, and diamond. Additionally, certain gases and artificial materials like metamaterials have been developed to manipulate light and slow it down.
Some practical applications of slowing down light include creating optical buffers for faster data transmission, developing more efficient optical switches, enhancing the resolution of microscopy and imaging techniques, and creating better sensors for detecting light.
Yes, light can be slowed down to a complete stop in certain conditions. This is achieved through a process called "electromagnetically induced transparency" where light is trapped in a material and its speed is reduced to zero. This has been successfully demonstrated in laboratory settings, but it is not yet possible to stop light in everyday situations.