We experimentally observed optical precursors in optically pumped crystals using polarization-based interference. By switching the user-programmable medium among the fast light, slow light and no-dispersion regimes, we observed an unchanged polarization states for the wavefronts. The robust polarization-encoded information carried by wavefronts suggests that precursors are the preferred carriers for both quantum and classical information in communication networks.
@article{arxiv.1304.3547,
title = {Experimental observation of optical precursors in optically pumped crystals},
author = {Zong-Quan Zhou and Chuan-Feng Li and Guang-Can Guo},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1304.3547},
year = {2013}
}