Real-space observation of ultraslow light in photonic crystal waveguides

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Feb 25;94(7):073903. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.073903. Epub 2005 Feb 25.

Abstract

We show the real-space observation of fast and slow pulses propagating inside a photonic crystal waveguide by time-resolved near-field scanning optical microscopy. Local phase and group velocities of modes are measured. For a specific optical frequency we observe a localized pattern associated with a flat band in the dispersion diagram. During at least 3 ps, movement of this field is hardly discernible: its group velocity would be at most c/1000. The huge trapping times without the use of a cavity reveal new perspectives for dispersion and time control within photonic crystals.