Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

The trapped rainbow

Arayan

0
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1,746
Points
48
Abstract : We report on the first experimental demonstration of the broadband "trapped rainbow" in the visible frequency range using an adiabatically tapered waveguide. Being a distinct case of the slow light phenomenon, the trapped rainbow effect could be applied to optical computing and signal processing, and to providing enhanced light-matter interactions.

500x_rainbow-convex-lens.jpg


University professors coated one side of a 4.5 millimetre diameter lens with a 30 nanometre thick coat of gold film, which they then put on a sheet of glass also splashed with a helping of gold. After shining a laser beam at the space between the curved lens and the glass, a rainbow appeared trapped between the elements when looked down on with a microscope. No pot of gold appeared, but a little dancing McNulty, dressed in a leprechaun costume, could be seen under the rainbow.

From: [0911.4464] Experimental observation of the trapped rainbow
 





VW

0
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
577
Points
0
Is that an actual photograph of the experiment? Or a reconstruction? I'm guessing the latter...
 

Arayan

0
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1,746
Points
48
Is that an actual photograph of the experiment? Or a reconstruction? I'm guessing the latter...
Yes, the picture is a recostruction, the real one shown in the paper is more accurate but less spectacular :)
 

VW

0
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
577
Points
0
Still pretty cool though! This an odd and interesting experiment, thanks for sharing...
 
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
1,807
Points
0
Really interesting... Just curious, do you know the wavelength of the laser they used?
 

Arayan

0
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1,746
Points
48
Really interesting... Just curious, do you know the wavelength of the laser they used?
Was used a light from a multi-wavelength argon ion laser (operating at λ=457 nm, 465 nm, 476 nm, 488 nm and 514 nm) and 633-nm light from a He-Ne laser coupled to the waveguide via side illumination.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1083.jpg
    IMG_1083.jpg
    109.8 KB · Views: 200
  • IMG_1084.jpg
    IMG_1084.jpg
    250 KB · Views: 209
Last edited:




Top