Electromagnetically Induced Coherent Backscattering

Abstract

We demonstrate a strong coherent backward wave oscillation using forward propagating fields only. This is achieved by applying laser fields to an ultradispersive medium with proper chosen detunings to excite a molecular vibrational coherence that corresponds to a backward propagating wave. The physics then has much in common with the propagation of ultraslow light. Applications to coherent scattering and remote sensing are discussed.