Delay limit of slow light in an optical fiber

We show that coherent population oscillations effect produces a very narrow spectral hole in the absorption spectrum. The large dispersion of the refractive index associated with this hole permits us to achieve a group velocity as low as 1496.25 m/s at room temperature in an erbium-doped fiber. When the input intensity is equal to the saturation intensity, the dispersion is optimal. The optimal dispersion corresponds to the maximum fractional delay. Therefore, the input intensity can be used as a control parameter to increase the fractional delay. Our theoretical results based on population oscillation agree very well with the experimental data. In addition, we confirm that the spectral hole experiences power broadening for optical fibers of different lengths.