Noncausal Time Response in Frustrated Total Internal Reflection?

John J. Carey, Justyna Zawadzka, Dino A. Jaroszynski, and Klaas Wynne
Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1431 – Published 14 February 2000
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Abstract

Tunneling of photons in frustrated total internal reflection has been studied in the time domain with single-cycle femtosecond pulses. It is seen that both the phase and energy of the pulse travel faster than the speed of light in vacuum. Theoretical analysis of the experiments shows that the time-response function for electromagnetic waves propagating in the air gap is noncausal. However, it is found that superluminal signal propagation is not possible in this case because of the inevitable diffractive spreading of the signal beam.

  • Received 10 August 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.1431

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

John J. Carey, Justyna Zawadzka, Dino A. Jaroszynski, and Klaas Wynne*

  • Femtosecond Research Centre, Department of Physics and Applied Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, United Kingdom

  • *Electronic address: klaas.wynne@phys.strath.ac.uk

Comments & Replies

Carey et al. Reply:

John J. Carey, Justyna Zawadzka, Dino A. Jaroszynski, and Klaas Wynne
Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 119102 (2001)

Comment on “Noncausal Time Response in Frustrated Total Internal Reflection?”

W. Luis Mochán and Vera L. Brudny
Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 119101 (2001)

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Vol. 84, Iss. 7 — 14 February 2000

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