Abstract
We identify the universal mechanism that is responsible for superluminal (faster-than-light) traversal times as well as the narrowing of wave packets transmitted through various nondissipative media. This mechanism is shown to be predominantly destructive interference between successive wave-packet components traversing all accessible causally retarded paths. It strongly depends on wave-packet coherence and width, and can cause superluminal traversal not only in evanescent-wave “tunneling” but also in allowed propagation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 586-590 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics