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Optics Letters

Reading and writing of photochemical holes using GaAlAs-diode lasers

Peter Pokrowsky, W. E. Moerner, F. Chu, Gary C. Bjorklund

Published May 1, 1983• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A current-tuned GaAlAs-diode laser is utilized both to burn and to detect narrow photochemical holes in the inhomogeneously broadened 833-nm zero-phonon line of the R' color center in LiF. Applications for reading and writing data into frequency-domain optical memories based on photochemical hole burning are discussed.
DOI
10.1364/ol.8.000280

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Many investigations have been done on the field of frequency domain optical memories based on photochemical hole burning (PHB). This effect offers an extra dimension for the organization of an optical memory. At cryogenic temperatures several solid state materials such as aggregate color centers in alkali halide crystals exhibit inhomogeneously broadened absorption lines. In such an absorption line permanent narrow holes can be burnt by photochemical processes induced by exposure to intense laser radiation with a wavelength within the inhomogeneously broadened line.