When Faster Isn't Better

摘要

Science fiction heroes zooming faster than the speed of light is the stuff of space-age movies, but slowing down or stopping light's speed may prove more useful to the military and others. Scientists have found that changing the pace of light brings technologies that were once considered impossible closer to reality.rnUniversity of Rochester Physics Professor John Howell, an expert in quantum optics, is being funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to examine the effects of slowing the speed of light. DARPA is funding nine teams to study slow light. The Army Research Office (ARO) also supports Howell's work. Though the ARO funds overlap Howell's DARPA money, they further his team's research in other areas, such as stopping light, as well.