Superluminal signal velocity

Abstract

It recently has been demonstrated that signals conveyed by evanescent modes can travel faster than light. In this report some special features of signals are introduced and investigated, for instance the fundamental property that signals are frequency band limited. Evanescent modes are characterized by extraordinary properties: Their energy is {\it negative}, they are not directly measurable, and the evanescent region is not causal since the modes traverse this region instantaneously. The study demonstrates the necessity of quantum mechanical principles in order to interprete the superluminal signal velocity of classical evanescent modes.