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A laboratory analogue of the event horizon using slow light in an atomic medium

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  • Ulf Leonhardt

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh)

Abstract

Singularities underlie many optical phenomena1. The rainbow, for example, involves a particular type of singularity—a ray catastrophe—in which light rays become infinitely intense. In practice, the wave nature of light resolves these infinities, producing interference patterns. At the event horizon of a black hole2, time stands still and waves oscillate with infinitely small wavelengths. However, the quantum nature of light results in evasion of the catastrophe and the emission of Hawking radiation3. Here I report a theoretical laboratory analogue of an event horizon: a parabolic profile of the group velocity7 of light brought to a standstill in an atomic medium4,5,6 can cause a wave singularity similar to that associated with black holes. In turn, the quantum vacuum is forced to create photon pairs with a characteristic spectrum, a phenomenon related to Hawking radiation3. The idea may initiate a theory of ‘quantum’ catastrophes, extending classical catastrophe theory8,9.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulf Leonhardt, 2002. "A laboratory analogue of the event horizon using slow light in an atomic medium," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6870), pages 406-409, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:415:y:2002:i:6870:d:10.1038_415406a
    DOI: 10.1038/415406a
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