Observation of superluminal wave-front propagation at the shadow area behind an opaque disk

We demonstrate in theory and experiment superluminal properties of optical field propagation in the shadow area behind an opaque disk (Poisson's spot). The wave front of the field in the shadow zone is initially delayed with respect to the unperturbed field. This phase shift gradually diminishes along the optical path and therefore ensures variation of the phase velocity of the field at the axis. A resulting excess of about c X 10(-5) was detected. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.