2010/09/15 by Patricio Leboeuf, Simon Moulieras · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Classical mechanics #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Condensed matter physics #Critical ionization velocity #Dissipation #Dissipative system #Motion (physics) #Physics #Quantum #Quantum mechanics #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Realization (probability) #Strong Light-Matter Interactions #Superfluidity #cond-mat.quant-gas #nlin.PS #physics.optics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.105.163904
4 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2010/09/15 · openalex publication_date 2010/10/14 · arxiv updated 2011/07/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Superfluidity, the ability of a fluid to move without dissipation, is one of the most spectacular manifestations of the quantum nature of matter. We explore here the possibility of superfluid motion of light. Controlling the speed of a light packet with respect to a defect, we demonstrate the presence of superfluidity and, above a critical velocity, its breakdown through the onset of a dissipative phase. We describe a possible experimental realization based on the transverse motion through an array of waveguides. These results open new perspectives in transport optimization.