Physicists have achieved a groundbreaking feat in manipulating light, slowing it down dramatically using an ultracold quantum state of matter called a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). By creating this exotic environment, researchers were able to slow the speed of light to just 61 kilometers per hour – comparable to a person jogging. This discovery builds on decades of research and has significant implications for quantum physics, computing, and information storage.
The mechanism behind this phenomenon lies in electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), which manipulates how atoms in the BEC interact with light. When a control laser is used, it creates a transparent window allowing light pulses to travel through the condensate at an extremely slow speed. Experimental observations have confirmed the significance of this effect, demonstrating that slow light pulses can be compressed without losing information content.
This breakthrough has far-reaching potential applications, including quantum computing, optical data storage, and precision sensors. The ability to store and retrieve light-based information could enable powerful quantum computers and ultra-fast data storage systems. Furthermore, the sensitivity of slowed light to environmental changes makes BEC-based devices excellent quantum sensors capable of detecting even smallest changes.
As research in this field continues, scientists aim to develop new technologies that were once thought impossible, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of light and quantum mechanics.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/02/physicists-slow-down-light-to-just-61-kilometers-per-hour-using-ultracold-quantum-matter