| Energy exchange between an electromagnetic pulse and dispersive media may result in complicated, yet interesting, phenomena in which the group velocity becomes abnormal (i.e. superluminal or negative). For such cases, signal velocity (velocity of detectable information) remains debatable. In this thesis, we present a systematic study that can be applied to pulse propagation in any dispersive medium in order to quantify the detectable information content and calculate its speed at different propagation distances while accounting for: pulse reshaping effects, noise generated in the medium, and the detector. Accordingly, we present an operational context within which the constraints of superluminal signaling and its potential applications are shown. Furthermore, we explain the fundamental limitations imposed by the cut-off medium length beyond which superluminal propagation can not be achieved. Such analysis explores the fundamental limitations and capabilities of a broad range of fast (and slow) light applications. |
