Munster University Student Earns European Optical Society Award for Reducing Light Speed

Sebastian Kroesen, a student in the Institute of Applied Physics of Münster University’s Nonlinear Photonics Group, has earned the best student presentation award from the European Optical Society at the annual meeting.

Kroesen’s presentation has contributed greatly to the optical industry’s hot topic that deals with speed reduction of light pulses in consistent optical systems down to the pace of pedestrians.

Generally, light in a vacuum transmits over 300,000 km/s. However, the velocity of light can be slowed down considerably in certain physical systems by utilizing some ploys. Earlier, complicated quantum optical devices functioning close to absolute zero temperature were used in the slow-light tests and thus were not suitable for industrial applications.

Kroesen created an adjustable, broadband, small component for modern long heave data communication. This feature can be used for buffering and harmonization applications in every optical routing and computing technology. He developed the concept with the help of Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz and Wolfgang Horn. The global slow-light research community has already recognized the concept.