We experimentally study the group time delay for a light pulse propagating through hot ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ vapor in the presence of a strong coupling field in a $\Lambda$ configuration. We demonstrate that the ultraslow pulse propagation is transformed into superluminal propagation as the one-photon detuning of the light increases due to the change in the transmission resonance line shape. Negative group velocity as low as $-c∕{10}^6=-80\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ is recorded. We also find that the advance time in the regime of the superluminal propagation grows linearly with increasing laser field power.

• Received 17 February 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.69.063808