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Persistent Spectral Hole Burning Materials for Time-and- Frequency-Domain Optical Memories and Signal Processing

R. L. Cone

Published Jun 18, 1998• 0 citations
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Abstract

Abstract : Optical materials for spectral hole burning and coherent transient applications were designed and evaluated, emphasizing relevance to devices including high performance memory, signal processing, high speed holographic recording and analysis, and optical switches, routers, and buffers. The ultimate limits on material performance set by atomic mechanisms were determined. The developed materials contained Eu3+, Pr3+, Tm3+, Tb3+, or Er3+ active ions in various oxide hosts. The first report was made of an Er3+ material for hole burning applications in 1.5 micron optical communications bands. Eight Er3+ materials for applications at 1.5 microns in optical routers and buffer memories were designed and characterized. A correlator' signal processing capability was demonstrated, and the first report was made of operation of a 1.5 micron packet header decoder for all-optimized optical packet switching in optical communications along optical fibers at 1531 nm. Eu3+:Y2SiO5 was optimized for use in 100 GByte ODRAM optical memory devices, considering Eu3+ concentration and temperature. Eight Tm3+ compounds for signal processing applications, such as true time delays for phased-array radar, at diode laser wavelengths near 795 nm were designed and characterized. Eight Tb3+ compounds for photon gated spectral hole burning were designed and characterized, and gated hole burning was observed in Tb3+:YAIO3.

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Spectral hole burning and photon echoes are the techniques for frequency-selective optical memories, which have the potential to increase areal data storage density by a factor 10**7. They also have the capability to perform in-memory data processing. In this thesis, several materials and techniques for optical memories in the frequency- and time domain have been investigated. In the frequency domain, ways to increase the storage density and the working temperature were studied using photon-gated spectral hole burning materials of the metal-tetrabenzoporphyrin derivatives. A selection rule for the electron acceptors in the donor-acceptor electron transfer systems was deduced. By doping the material with two different donors a maximum inhomogeneous line width of more than 30 THz was achieved. A polarization holographic technique was established for the formation and detection of spectral holes. Our results indicate that this technique can provide a better signal-to-noise ratio than that achieved by a conventional holographic technique, in particular for samples of poor optical quality. In the time domain, magnetic field-induced and the intensity-induced dephasing processes were studied in Pr3+ doped in a YAlO3 crystal and a Y2SiO5 crystal, respectively. As a step along the route to make photon echo based optical processing possible, the amplification of photon echo signals by the use of a fiber amplifier (Pr3+-doped ZBLAN) was demonstrated. A gain of 45 was achieved. The erasure of stored data using photon echoes has also been investigated. A technique to diagnose the phase and frequency stability of a light source by the photon echo erasure process was proposed and illustrated. An approach to bit-selective data erasure, that is free from laser phase and frequency fluctuations, is also suggested. A concept for an arbitrary shape pulse generator based on photon echoes and hole-burning was experimentally and theoretically studied. Finally, a comparison between the properties and capabilities of spectral hole burning and photon echoes was made.

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Unique spectroscopic properties of isolated rare earth ions in solids offer optical linewidths rivaling those of trapped single atoms and enable a variety of recent applications. We design rare-earth-doped crystals, ceramics, and fibers with persistent or transient "spectral hole" recording properties for applications including high-bandwidth optical signal processing where light and our solids replace the high-bandwidth portion of the electronics; quantum cryptography and information science including the goal of storage and recall of single photons; and medical imaging technology for the 700-900 nm therapeutic window. Ease of optically manipulating rare-earth ions in solids enables capturing complex spectral information in 105 to 108 frequency bins. Combining spatial holography and spectral hole burning provides a capability for processing high-bandwidth RF and optical signals with sub-MHz spectral resolution and bandwidths of tens to hundreds of GHz for applications including range-Doppler radar and high bandwidth RF spectral analysis. Simply stated, one can think of these crystals as holographic recording media capable of distinguishing up to 108 different colors. Ultra-narrow spectral holes also serve as a vibration-insensitive sub-kHz frequency reference for laser frequency stabilization to a part in 1013 over tens of milliseconds. The unusual properties and applications of spectral hole burning of rare earth ions in optical materials are reviewed. Experimental results on the promising Tm3+:LiNbO3 material system are presented and discussed for medical imaging applications. Finally, a new application of these materials as dynamic optical filters for laser noise suppression is discussed along with experimental demonstrations and theoretical modeling of the process.

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Abstract : A tunable laser for infrared and visible operation was purchased to expand our work on optical memories based on persistent spectral hole burning. The Coherent 899-21 laser uses Ti:sapphire and dye media to cover the spectral regions required for semiconductor laser operation and for photon-gated memories. A large argon-ion pump laser for use with the tunable laser was purchased with local funds. Searching for new hole burning materials, evaluation of their properties, and studies of the limits on material performance were the goals of our research. Attention was focussed on rare earth or transition metal ion materials. (MM)

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Spectral hole burning material parameters that impact optical memory architecture and performance are investigated. Optical power budget analysis for the data storage process reveals that although narrow homogeneous linewidth can confer high data density, it does not optimally support high data rates. Trading narrow linewidth for higher oscillator strength would be desirable, if attainable. Experimental measurement of oscillator strengths, quantum yield into alternative hyperfine ground state levels, and persistence of the hyperfine level populations in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 and Pr3+:Y2SiO5 are presented and discussed. Quantum yield measurements of less than 25% indicate that spin projections are strongly preserved during excitation and relaxation processes. The hole depth consequently attainable from single π-pulse illumination requires trade-offs in memory system design.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jun 30, 2003•0 citations
Abstract : Optical materials for spectral hole burning and coherent transient applications were designed and evaluated, emphasizing relevance to devices including high performance memory, signal processing, high speed holographic recording and analysis, and optical switches, routers, and buffers. The ultimate limits on material performance set by atomic mechanisms were determined. The developed materials contained Eu3+, Pr3+, Tm3+, Tb3+, or Er3+ active ions in various oxide hosts. The first report was made of an Er3+ material for hole burning applications in 1.5 micron optical communications bands. Eight Er3+ materials for applications at 1.5 microns in optical routers and buffer memories were designed and characterized. A correlator' signal processing capability was demonstrated, and the first report was made of operation of a 1.5 micron packet header decoder for all-optimized optical packet switching in optical communications along optical fibers at 1531 nm. Eu3+:Y2SiO5 was optimized for use in 100 GByte ODRAM optical memory devices, considering Eu3+ concentration and temperature. Eight Tm3+ compounds for signal processing applications, such as true time delays for phased-array radar, at diode laser wavelengths near 795 nm were designed and characterized. Eight Tb3+ compounds for photon gated spectral hole burning were designed and characterized, and gated hole burning was observed in Tb3+:YAIO3.
Spectral hole burning and photon echoes are the techniques for frequency-selective optical memories, which have the potential to increase areal data storage density by a factor 10**7. They also have the capability to perform in-memory data processing. In this thesis, several materials and techniques for optical memories in the frequency- and time domain have been investigated. In the frequency domain, ways to increase the storage density and the working temperature were studied using photon-gated spectral hole burning materials of the metal-tetrabenzoporphyrin derivatives. A selection rule for the electron acceptors in the donor-acceptor electron transfer systems was deduced. By doping the material with two different donors a maximum inhomogeneous line width of more than 30 THz was achieved. A polarization holographic technique was established for the formation and detection of spectral holes. Our results indicate that this technique can provide a better signal-to-noise ratio than that achieved by a conventional holographic technique, in particular for samples of poor optical quality. In the time domain, magnetic field-induced and the intensity-induced dephasing processes were studied in Pr3+ doped in a YAlO3 crystal and a Y2SiO5 crystal, respectively. As a step along the route to make photon echo based optical processing possible, the amplification of photon echo signals by the use of a fiber amplifier (Pr3+-doped ZBLAN) was demonstrated. A gain of 45 was achieved. The erasure of stored data using photon echoes has also been investigated. A technique to diagnose the phase and frequency stability of a light source by the photon echo erasure process was proposed and illustrated. An approach to bit-selective data erasure, that is free from laser phase and frequency fluctuations, is also suggested. A concept for an arbitrary shape pulse generator based on photon echoes and hole-burning was experimentally and theoretically studied. Finally, a comparison between the properties and capabilities of spectral hole burning and photon echoes was made.
Unique spectroscopic properties of isolated rare earth ions in solids offer optical linewidths rivaling those of trapped single atoms and enable a variety of recent applications. We design rare-earth-doped crystals, ceramics, and fibers with persistent or transient "spectral hole" recording properties for applications including high-bandwidth optical signal processing where light and our solids replace the high-bandwidth portion of the electronics; quantum cryptography and information science including the goal of storage and recall of single photons; and medical imaging technology for the 700-900 nm therapeutic window. Ease of optically manipulating rare-earth ions in solids enables capturing complex spectral information in 105 to 108 frequency bins. Combining spatial holography and spectral hole burning provides a capability for processing high-bandwidth RF and optical signals with sub-MHz spectral resolution and bandwidths of tens to hundreds of GHz for applications including range-Doppler radar and high bandwidth RF spectral analysis. Simply stated, one can think of these crystals as holographic recording media capable of distinguishing up to 108 different colors. Ultra-narrow spectral holes also serve as a vibration-insensitive sub-kHz frequency reference for laser frequency stabilization to a part in 1013 over tens of milliseconds. The unusual properties and applications of spectral hole burning of rare earth ions in optical materials are reviewed. Experimental results on the promising Tm3+:LiNbO3 material system are presented and discussed for medical imaging applications. Finally, a new application of these materials as dynamic optical filters for laser noise suppression is discussed along with experimental demonstrations and theoretical modeling of the process.
Spatial-spectral holography using spectral hole burning materials is a powerful technique for performing real-time, wide-bandwidth information storage and signal processing. For operation in the important 1.5 μm communication band, the material Er3+:Y2SiO5 enables applications such as laser frequency stabilization, all-optical correlators, analog signal processing, and data storage. Site-selective absorption and emission spectroscopy identified spectral hole burning transitions and excited state T1 lifetimes in the 1.5 μm spectral region. The effects of crystal temperature, Er3+-dopant concentration, magnetic field strength, and crystal orientation on spectral diffusion were explored using stimulated photon echo spectroscopy, which is the "prototype" interaction mechanism for device applications. The performance of Er3+:Y2SiO5 and related Er3+ materials has been dramatically enhanced by reducing the effect of spectral diffusion on the coherence lifetime T2 through fundamental material design coupled with the application of an external magnetic field oriented along specific directions. A preferred magnetic field orientation that maximized T2 by minimizing the effects of spectral diffusion was determined using the results of angle-dependent Zeeman spectroscopy. The observed linewidth broadening due to spectral diffusion was successfully modeled by considering the effect of one-phonon (direct) processes on Er3+ - Er3+ interactions. The reported studies improved our understanding of Er3+ materials, explored the range of conditions and material parameters required to optimize performance for specific applications, and enabled measurement of the narrowest optical resonance ever observed in a solid-with a homogeneous linewidth of 73 Hz. With the optimized materials and operating conditions, photon echoes were observed up to temperatures of 5 K, enabling 0.5 GHz bandwidth optical signal processing at 4.2 K and providing the possibility for operation with a closed-cycle cryocooler.
Over the report period, an optical laboratory for characterization materials for frequency domain optical storage was upgraded. Spectral and spectral hole burning properties were studied for several free-based and metallo-naphthalocyanine derivatives in polymer hosts. These materials exhibit a strong 0-0 absorption band and persistent hole burning in the region 800 nm. Hole burning parameters were determined for eight materials; in particular, the hole burning kinetics was analyzed and the quantum efficiencies were determined to be between 0.1% and 1%. Holograms (data pages) in the transmission geometry were successfully recorded in the materials studied using single frequency laser diodes. A photoluminescence of five natural diamonds (type Ia) implanted with Xe ions with dose range 1x10(exp 13) - 5x10(exp 14) /sq cm was investigated as a function of thermal annealing at temperatures between 300 and 1400 C.
Abstract : A tunable laser for infrared and visible operation was purchased to expand our work on optical memories based on persistent spectral hole burning. The Coherent 899-21 laser uses Ti:sapphire and dye media to cover the spectral regions required for semiconductor laser operation and for photon-gated memories. A large argon-ion pump laser for use with the tunable laser was purchased with local funds. Searching for new hole burning materials, evaluation of their properties, and studies of the limits on material performance were the goals of our research. Attention was focussed on rare earth or transition metal ion materials. (MM)
Spectral hole burning material parameters that impact optical memory architecture and performance are investigated. Optical power budget analysis for the data storage process reveals that although narrow homogeneous linewidth can confer high data density, it does not optimally support high data rates. Trading narrow linewidth for higher oscillator strength would be desirable, if attainable. Experimental measurement of oscillator strengths, quantum yield into alternative hyperfine ground state levels, and persistence of the hyperfine level populations in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 and Pr3+:Y2SiO5 are presented and discussed. Quantum yield measurements of less than 25% indicate that spin projections are strongly preserved during excitation and relaxation processes. The hole depth consequently attainable from single π-pulse illumination requires trade-offs in memory system design.