Professor

Department of Physics
Texas A&M University

For more information

• Dr. Welch's Web site
• Contact Dr. Welch
• About the Texas A&M University and its Department of Physics

About the presentation

"From Slow Light to FAST CARS"
Special relativity teaches us that nothing in the universe can ever go faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. However, for the last few years, scientists have routinely slowed light to very low speeds --comparable to a garden snail--and have even stopped it dead in its tracks, and stored it for future use. Furthermore, the same techniques can make light appear to go infinitely fast, or faster.

Slow light has considerable popular appeal, perhaps from the importance of the speed of light in relativity and cosmology. If everyday objects such as automobiles or people can travel faster than "slow" light, for example, then it might appear that relativistic effects could be observed at very low speeds. Although this is not the case, slow light nonetheless promises to play an important role in optical technology, and has important consequences for applications in optical data storage, quantum information, and even traditional radar.

In addition, Welch is now using the same slow-light techniques for improved detection of certain molecules. Hopefully, these new methods will enable remote detection of biological molecules, and even allow early detection of biological warfare agents such as anthrax.