Fast- and slow-light-enhanced light drag in a moving microcavity
Tian Qin, Jianfan Yang, Fangxing Zhang, Yao Chen, Dongyi Shen, Wei Liu, Lei Chen, Xiaoshun Jiang, Xianfeng Chen, Wenjie Wan
Abstract
Abstract Fizeau’s experiment, inspiring Einstein’s special theory of relativity, reveals a small dragging effect acting on light inside a moving medium. Dispersion can enhance such light drag according to Lorentz’s predication. Here fast- and slow-light-enhanced light drag is demonstrated experimentally in a moving optical microcavity through stimulated Brillouin scattering induced transparency and absorption. The strong dispersion provides an enhancement factor up to ~10 4 , greatly reducing the system size down to the micrometer range. These results may offer a unique platform for a compact, integrated solution to motion sensing and ultrafast signal processing applications.