Physicists Briefly Freeze Pulse of Light - GoFuckYourself.com

On-top · 12-10-2003, 08:45 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...c/frozen_light

Physicists Briefly Freeze Pulse of Light

Physicists say they have brought light to a complete halt for a fraction of a second and then sent it on its way, an achievement that could someday help scientists develop powerful new computers.

The research differs from work published in 2001 that was hailed at the time as having brought light to standstill. In that work, light pulses were technically "stored" briefly when individual particles of light, or photons, were taken up by atoms in a gas.

Harvard University researchers have now topped that feat by truly holding light and its energy in its tracks ? if only for a few hundred-thousandths of a second. "We have succeeded in holding a light pulse still without taking all the energy away from it," said Mikhail D. Lukin, a Harvard physicist.

Harnessing light particles to store and process data could aid the still distant goal of so-called quantum computers, as well as methods for communicating information over long distances without risk of eavesdropping.

The research may also have applications for improving conventional fiber-optic communications and data processing techniques that use light as an information carrier. Lukin said the present research is just another step toward efforts to control light, but said additional work is needed to determine if it can aid these applications.

The findings appear in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.

Stanford University physicist Stephen Harris said the new research is promising and represents an important scientific first.

Matthew Bigelow, a scientist at the University of Rochester involved in light research, called the new study "very clever" and something that may ultimately spur the development of superior light-based computers. "I think it's moving us in the right direction," he said.

Meta Ridley · 12-10-2003, 08:48 PM

Does the photon 'age' now that is has slowed down - ?

boneprone · 12-10-2003, 08:50 PM

Ive been able to do this as well..

Its called closing your eyes...

On-top · 12-10-2003, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Meta Ridley
Does the photon 'age' now that is has slowed down - ?

Hmmm...I'm not sure. Ask boneprone.

Pornwolf · 12-10-2003, 09:07 PM

I just did that. Did you see it? I didn't think so. Just like no one really witnessed them do it. Guess who's playing tricks for the 2004 budget forecast?

GonePhishing · 12-11-2003, 02:55 AM

Cool ass story!

404 · 12-11-2003, 03:22 AM

little known fact - string theory is mine.

twistyneck · 12-11-2003, 03:24 AM

Yeah that's great but when do we get our jetpacks? It's almost 2004 for crying out loud.

Arousal Design · 12-11-2003, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by twistyneck
Yeah that's great but when do we get our jetpacks? It's almost 2004 for crying out loud.

HHHAHHAHA

reynold · 12-11-2003, 03:41 AM

Interesting experiments with light.... one other experiment publicized about 6 months ago showed how light particles can be transferred across space. This may, in theory, pave the way for particle teleportation.

Star Trek...it seems is not that far off as we thought.

SomeCreep · 12-11-2003, 03:43 AM

impossible, the universe would explode

JFK · 12-11-2003, 04:43 AM

I just Patented all freezing of light, You bastards owe me a nickel every time you turn it off. Our Attorneys are watching.....Hey you , yeah I mean you ...........I see what you're doing

pipeking · 12-11-2003, 04:51 AM

In the same vein, some Danish physicists slowed the speed of light a couple of years back.

http://www.nytimes.com/library/natio...low-light.html

radical · 12-11-2003, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JFK
I just Patented all freezing of light, You bastards owe me a nickel every time you turn it off. Our Attorneys are watching.....Hey you , yeah I mean you ...........I see what you're doing

lol

Greg B · 12-11-2003, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by twistyneck
Yeah that's great but when do we get our jetpacks? It's almost 2004 for crying out loud.

Nyaaaahhh, I already have one!

On-top · 12-11-2003, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reynold
Interesting experiments with light.... one other experiment publicized about 6 months ago showed how light particles can be transferred across space. This may, in theory, pave the way for particle teleportation.

Star Trek...it seems is not that far off as we thought.

Yeah, the've slowed it down, froze it, broke it down and reconstructed it, and sped it up all in just the last 3 years.

Crazy shit...it's really hard to guess what's coming next...

12-10-2003, 08:45 PM	#1
On-top Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: IN Posts: 2,283	Physicists Briefly Freeze Pulse of Light http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...c/frozen_light Physicists Briefly Freeze Pulse of Light Physicists say they have brought light to a complete halt for a fraction of a second and then sent it on its way, an achievement that could someday help scientists develop powerful new computers. The research differs from work published in 2001 that was hailed at the time as having brought light to standstill. In that work, light pulses were technically "stored" briefly when individual particles of light, or photons, were taken up by atoms in a gas. Harvard University researchers have now topped that feat by truly holding light and its energy in its tracks ? if only for a few hundred-thousandths of a second. "We have succeeded in holding a light pulse still without taking all the energy away from it," said Mikhail D. Lukin, a Harvard physicist. Harnessing light particles to store and process data could aid the still distant goal of so-called quantum computers, as well as methods for communicating information over long distances without risk of eavesdropping. The research may also have applications for improving conventional fiber-optic communications and data processing techniques that use light as an information carrier. Lukin said the present research is just another step toward efforts to control light, but said additional work is needed to determine if it can aid these applications. The findings appear in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Stanford University physicist Stephen Harris said the new research is promising and represents an important scientific first. Matthew Bigelow, a scientist at the University of Rochester involved in light research, called the new study "very clever" and something that may ultimately spur the development of superior light-based computers. "I think it's moving us in the right direction," he said. __________________ Dynamic Hosting

12-10-2003, 08:48 PM	#2
Meta Ridley Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The land of ruleface and kickass Posts: 3,433	Does the photon 'age' now that is has slowed down - ? __________________ [email protected]

12-10-2003, 08:50 PM	#3
boneprone Hall Of Fame Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Portland Oregon USA Posts: 34,415	Ive been able to do this as well.. Its called closing your eyes... __________________ Industry Hall Of Fame Legend Mike Jones Bow to the Power - Still BP4L http://gfyawards.com/hall-of-fame Learn about it kids.

12-10-2003, 09:07 PM	#5
Pornwolf Drunk and Unruly Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 22,712	I just did that. Did you see it? I didn't think so. Just like no one really witnessed them do it. Guess who's playing tricks for the 2004 budget forecast? __________________ I've trusted my sites to them for over a decade... Webair, bitches.

12-11-2003, 02:55 AM	#6
GonePhishing Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Blah Posts: 2,474	Cool ass story! __________________ If Biff Fucks My Mom... I Might Never Be Born...

12-11-2003, 03:22 AM	#7
404 Confirmed abUser Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage Posts: 1,154	little known fact - string theory is mine. __________________ (b] cheap hmtl programer for hire (/b)

12-11-2003, 03:24 AM	#8
twistyneck So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hanging by the neck until dead. Posts: 4,660	Yeah that's great but when do we get our jetpacks? It's almost 2004 for crying out loud.

12-11-2003, 03:41 AM	#10
reynold Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Global Traveler Posts: 51,271	Interesting experiments with light.... one other experiment publicized about 6 months ago showed how light particles can be transferred across space. This may, in theory, pave the way for particle teleportation. Star Trek...it seems is not that far off as we thought.

12-11-2003, 03:43 AM	#11
SomeCreep :glugglug Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where the Wild Things Are Posts: 26,118	impossible, the universe would explode __________________ Webair Hosting I use and recommend Webair for hosting.

12-11-2003, 04:43 AM	#12
JFK FUBAR the ORIGINATOR Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: FUBARLAND Posts: 67,374	I just Patented all freezing of light, You bastards owe me a nickel every time you turn it off. Our Attorneys are watching.....Hey you , yeah I mean you ...........I see what you're doing __________________ FUBAR Webmasters - The FUBAR Times - FUBAR Webmasters Mobile - FUBARTV.XXX For promo opps contact jfk at fubarwebmasters dot com

12-11-2003, 04:51 AM	#13
pipeking So Fucking Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 121	In the same vein, some Danish physicists slowed the speed of light a couple of years back. http://www.nytimes.com/library/natio...low-light.html