Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Applied Physics Letters

Hybrid optical bistability based on voltage-controlled changes of persistent spectral holes

N. Hartmannsgruber, Max Maier

Published Apr 15, 1991• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Electric field induced changes of the absorption in the center of a persistent spectral hole were used to operate a hybrid optical bistable device. The hole was burned in the inhomogeneously broadened S0–S1 transition of perylene in an amorphous polyvinylbutyral matrix. The external feedback was realized by detecting the zero-phonon fluorescence light of the dye molecules with a photomultiplier and applying the amplified voltage to the sample.

DOI
10.1063/1.105132

Related papers

Applications of Electric Field Effects on Persistent Spectral Holes

Max Maier

We studied the effects of an external electric field on persistent spectral holes in an inhomogeneously broadened optical transition of dye molecules embedded in crystalline or disordered solids.1 The results are applied to optical data storage in the electric field dimension, modulation and pulse forming of laser beams,1,2 and hybrid optical bistability.

Spectral Hole-Burning and Related Spectroscopies: Science and Applications•Jan 1, 1991•0 citations

Voltage-tunable optical data storage using persistent spectral hole burning

Udo Bogner, K. Beck, P. Schätz +1 more

The use of persistent spectral hole burning in optical data storage allows an increase of the storage density up to a factor of 1000 compared to the common spatial matrix of optical bits.1 The information is stored by burning at low temperature a sequence of narrow spectral holes in the inhomogeneously broadened optical transition of optical centers, e.g. dye molecules embedded in an amorphous polymer, with a tunable narrow-bandwidth laser. One bit of information is encoded by the presence or absence of a hole at a given location in frequency space. The information is read by observing the absorption or the fluorescence of the storage material using a laser with tunable frequency. One of the problems of spectral hole burning data storage arises from the fact that for addressing the memory locations the laser frequency has to be changed over a large frequency range with high accuracy and speed.

Optical Data Storage•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Electro - Optical, Multi-Stable Switches Based on Persistent Spectral Holes

David M. Hanson

Photochemical or photophysical transformations induced by highly monochromatic laser radiation can drastically reduce the concentration of molecules absorbing at a particular wavelength within an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band. These spectral holes can be broadened, removed, shifted or split by the application of an external electric field under appropriate conditions. This property provides a nonlinear response in sample transmission, absorption, or diffraction and can be coupled with feedback to produce novel electro-optical devices. These devices include electrically activated, frequency selective, monostable, bistable, or multistable switches.

Spectral Hole-Burning and Related Spectroscopies: Science and Applications•Jan 1, 1991•0 citations

Hybrid Optical Bistability with Non-Monochromatic Light in Persistent Spectral Hole-Burning Media

H. Schwoerer, Hansruedi Gygax, Alexander Rebane +1 more

The possibility to control by applying external electric field the index of absorption (and correlated to it index of refraction) of low-temperature impurity media can serve, in principle, as basis for opto-electronic devices such as laser beam modulators and optical memories.

Spectral Hole-Burning and Related Spectroscopies: Science and Applications•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations

Electric Field Effects on Persistent Spectral Holes: Applications in Photonics

Udo Bogner

Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) is a new method in the laser spectroscopy of solids. This method is based on the existence of zero-phonon lines in the spectra of light-absorbing species, such as impurities (molecules, ions, etc.) or color centers in crystalline or amorphous materials. This chapter describes the electric field effects on persistent spectral holes and in particular special applications in electrooptics and photonics. It demonstrates that PSHB is useful not only for digital processes, such as data storage in the electric field domain, but also for analog processes concerning, in particular, the modulation and pulse forming of laser beams and hybrid optical bistability. The chapter also discusses the future prospects of the possible applications of PSHB and electric field effects. For future possible applications involving PSHB techniques in everyday appliances, it is important to provide room-temperature operation.

CRC Press eBooks•Jul 29, 2020•1 citation

Electric field selective optical data storage using persistent spectral hole burning

Udo Bogner, Kenneth M. Beck, Max Maier

The electric field domain is used as a storage dimension in optical data storage by persistent spectral hole burning. The memory locations in the electric field domain are addressed with the voltage applied to the sample consisting of the amorphous polymer polyvinyl-butyral doped with the dye 9-amino acridine. The information is written by burning spectral holes at different electric field strengths with a HeCd laser and read by detecting the presence or absence of holes with weak laser intensity.

Applied Physics Letters•Mar 15, 1985•35 citations
Electric field induced changes of the absorption in the center of a persistent spectral hole were used to operate a hybrid optical bistable device. The hole was burned in the inhomogeneously broadened S0–S1 transition of perylene in an amorphous polyvinylbutyral matrix. The external feedback was realized by detecting the zero-phonon fluorescence light of the dye molecules with a photomultiplier and applying the amplified voltage to the sample.
The use of persistent spectral hole burning in optical data storage allows an increase of the storage density up to a factor of 1000 compared to the common spatial matrix of optical bits.1 The information is stored by burning at low temperature a sequence of narrow spectral holes in the inhomogeneously broadened optical transition of optical centers, e.g. dye molecules embedded in an amorphous polymer, with a tunable narrow-bandwidth laser. One bit of information is encoded by the presence or absence of a hole at a given location in frequency space. The information is read by observing the absorption or the fluorescence of the storage material using a laser with tunable frequency. One of the problems of spectral hole burning data storage arises from the fact that for addressing the memory locations the laser frequency has to be changed over a large frequency range with high accuracy and speed.
Photochemical or photophysical transformations induced by highly monochromatic laser radiation can drastically reduce the concentration of molecules absorbing at a particular wavelength within an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band. These spectral holes can be broadened, removed, shifted or split by the application of an external electric field under appropriate conditions. This property provides a nonlinear response in sample transmission, absorption, or diffraction and can be coupled with feedback to produce novel electro-optical devices. These devices include electrically activated, frequency selective, monostable, bistable, or multistable switches.
Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) is a new method in the laser spectroscopy of solids. This method is based on the existence of zero-phonon lines in the spectra of light-absorbing species, such as impurities (molecules, ions, etc.) or color centers in crystalline or amorphous materials. This chapter describes the electric field effects on persistent spectral holes and in particular special applications in electrooptics and photonics. It demonstrates that PSHB is useful not only for digital processes, such as data storage in the electric field domain, but also for analog processes concerning, in particular, the modulation and pulse forming of laser beams and hybrid optical bistability. The chapter also discusses the future prospects of the possible applications of PSHB and electric field effects. For future possible applications involving PSHB techniques in everyday appliances, it is important to provide room-temperature operation.
The electric field domain is used as a storage dimension in optical data storage by persistent spectral hole burning. The memory locations in the electric field domain are addressed with the voltage applied to the sample consisting of the amorphous polymer polyvinyl-butyral doped with the dye 9-amino acridine. The information is written by burning spectral holes at different electric field strengths with a HeCd laser and read by detecting the presence or absence of holes with weak laser intensity.