Experimental verification of the effect of slow light on molecular absorption

Abstract

The absorption of light by a gas molecule has been measured comparatively using light propagating in normal conditions and in a slow light regime. The experiment is designed to make the 2 measurements possible without modifying the interaction conditions, so that the sole effect of slow light is unambiguously observed. A 26% group velocity reduction induced by stimulated Brillouin scattering in a gas-filled microstructured fiber caused no observable change in the measured absorption, so that it is proved that material slow light does not enhance Beer-Lambert absorption and has a null impact on gas sensing or spectroscopic applications.