Abstract

Optical pulse propagation at a superluminal speed has received recently a great and renewed attention [1(a)], and diverse systems and mechanisms have been investigated so far [1(b)]. Pulse transmission through a photonic bandgap, i.e. optical tunnelling, is a well-established mechanism of superluminality [1(b)]. The question arises whether superluminal effects may be observed in pulse reflection instead of pulse transmission. Superluminal peak advancement in pulse reflection has been predicted in optical phase-conjugation [2(a)], however solely in the unstable (self-oscillatory) regime, whereas it is unlikely in usual reciprocal photonic bandgap structures [2(b)].

© 2001 EPS