Observation of optical backflow
- 15 January 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in Optica
- Vol. 7 (1), 72-76
- https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.371494
Abstract
Backflow is a counter-intuitive phenomenon in which a forward propagating quantum particle propagates locally backwards. The actual counter-propagation property associated with this delicate interference phenomenon has not been observed to date in any field of physics. Here, we report the observation of transverse optical backflow where a beam of light propagating to a specific transverse direction is measured locally to propagate in the opposite direction. This observation is relevant to any physical system supporting coherent waves.Keywords
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