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Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Spectral Hole Burning And Hologram Storage

Urs P. Wild, Alois Renn

Published Apr 27, 1988• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The techniques of Total Luminescence Spectroscopy and of Hole Burning are used to investigate the inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidth of molecules in matrices at low temperatures. The principle of hologram storage with the hole-burning technique is outlined. Examples for laser-frequency selective and electric-field selective hologram storage are given.

DOI
10.1117/12.945440

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Spectral Hole Burning: Data Storage and Processing

Urs P. Wild, Eric S. Maniloff, Stefan Bernet +1 more

At very low temperatures, the spread in the different environments of matrix embedded dye molecules results in an inhomogeneously broadened S1 ← S0 band. Spectroscopic techniques based on the appearence of optical zero phonon lines, such as fluorescence line narrowing, spectral hole-burning, and single molecule spectroscopy provide an experimental resolution limited by the homogeneous linewidth. From the investigation of the homogeneous line width as a function of different parameters (time, temperature) information on the guest host interactions responsible for the observed linewidth is obtained. Spectrally narrow features are extremely sensitive probes for external perturbations, such as electric fields, magnetic fields, or hydrostatic pressure.

Spectral Hole-Burning and Related Spectroscopies: Science and Applications•Jan 1, 1994•0 citations

Spectral Hole Burning and Holographic Image Storage

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Spectral hole-burning allows a large number of holograms to be stored within inhomogeneously broadened absorption bands of dye doped polymer films. Employing an electric field as an additional dimension to address the images, the storage of 25 holograms within the spectral range of one wavenumber has recently been achieved. It is shown that the relative phase between the holograms must be controlled in order to optimize the storage density.

Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Incorporating Nonlinear Optics•Jan 1, 1990•6 citations

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The properties of holographic recording and detection of spectral holes in the frequency and electric-field dimension are investigated. To optimize the storage properties of optical memory devices, based on spectral hole burning and holography, cross-talk effects between adjacent holograms have to be minimized. These interactions depend on the relative phases of the holograms chosen during the recording stage. Using free-base chlorin (2,3-dihydroporphyrin) in polyvinyl butyral as host at a temperature of 1.7 K, the influence of the relative phase difference between holograms is demonstrated in both the frequency and the electric-field dimension. Experimental results are presented for rows and columns of holograms stored either in the laser frequency or the electric-field dimension and compared to transmission data. Using both dimensions a 10 x 10 matrix of holograms has been stored within the range of a single wave number.

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Multidimensional Holography by Persistent Spectral Hole Burning

Alois Renn, Urs P. Wild, Aleksander K. Rebane

Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) in organic molecules doped in a polymer matrix at low temperatures allows optical recording of information in the dimensions of frequency and time, as well as in space and externally applied electric field. We use this special property to demonstrate new types of holograms, which extend conventional spatial-domain optical data storage into the new dimensions. Basic aspects of recording and playback of holograms by persistent spectral hole burning, including relation between frequency- and time-domain response function, is discussed. This paper is elucidating inherent relations between the time- and frequency-domain versions of PSHB holography. We show that by multiplexing holograms in the frequency dimension, we can store a large number (up to 12 000) of image holograms using a single spectral hole burning sample. In the time domain, we show storage and reproduction of ultrashort time-space images on the scale of 10 -12 −10 -13 s. Experiments demonstrating unusual hologram properties, such as causality-related asymmetry of diffraction, inversion of time coordinate, and ultrafast processing, are presented.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry A•Mar 13, 2002•57 citations

Hole-Burning Memories: A Frequency Selective Mesoscopic Approach to Molecular Storage

D. Haarer

Due to the long wavelength of visible light, most straight forward optical methods, like absorption or emission spectroscopy, are not well suited for spectroscopy on a “molecular level”. The hole-burning method is a selective spectroscopy scheme based on energy selection. This method yields, at low temperatures, very high spectral resolution and, hence, can be used to investigate molecular environments and molecular potentials. With the simultaneous application of external fields the hole-burning technique is a true two-dimensional spectroscopy method. Hole-burning can also be used for enhancing the schemes of presently used optical memories by many orders of magnitude. In this context new developments based on the use of semiconductor laser diodes are reported. The question of the requirement of low temperatures is also critically reviewed and, finally, a comparison between mesoscopic storage schemes and molecular schemes is given.

Molecular crystals and liquid crystals science technology. Section A, Molecular crystals and liquid crystals/Molecular crystals and liquid crystals science and technology. Section A, Molecular crystals and liquid crystals•Oct 1, 1993•2 citations

Materials for spectral hole-burning storage

W. E. Moerner

One very exciting application of laser spectroscopy would be to use the high-resolution capabilities of today’s lasers and the phenomenon of persistent spectral hole-burning to form a frequency domain optical storage system.1 In such a system, bits of information would be stored by locally modifying (in the frequency domain) the shape of an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line of an absorber in a solid at low temperatures. Because typical homogeneous widths are 1000X (or more) narrower than typical inhomogeneous widths, as many as 1000 bits could be written in one diffraction-limited 1-μm spot In a sample, yielding the impressive storage density of 1011 bits/cm2.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 1983•1 citation
The techniques of Total Luminescence Spectroscopy and of Hole Burning are used to investigate the inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidth of molecules in matrices at low temperatures. The principle of hologram storage with the hole-burning technique is outlined. Examples for laser-frequency selective and electric-field selective hologram storage are given.
At very low temperatures, the spread in the different environments of matrix embedded dye molecules results in an inhomogeneously broadened S1 ← S0 band. Spectroscopic techniques based on the appearence of optical zero phonon lines, such as fluorescence line narrowing, spectral hole-burning, and single molecule spectroscopy provide an experimental resolution limited by the homogeneous linewidth. From the investigation of the homogeneous line width as a function of different parameters (time, temperature) information on the guest host interactions responsible for the observed linewidth is obtained. Spectrally narrow features are extremely sensitive probes for external perturbations, such as electric fields, magnetic fields, or hydrostatic pressure.
The properties of holographic recording and detection of spectral holes in the frequency and electric-field dimension are investigated. To optimize the storage properties of optical memory devices, based on spectral hole burning and holography, cross-talk effects between adjacent holograms have to be minimized. These interactions depend on the relative phases of the holograms chosen during the recording stage. Using free-base chlorin (2,3-dihydroporphyrin) in polyvinyl butyral as host at a temperature of 1.7 K, the influence of the relative phase difference between holograms is demonstrated in both the frequency and the electric-field dimension. Experimental results are presented for rows and columns of holograms stored either in the laser frequency or the electric-field dimension and compared to transmission data. Using both dimensions a 10 x 10 matrix of holograms has been stored within the range of a single wave number.
Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) in organic molecules doped in a polymer matrix at low temperatures allows optical recording of information in the dimensions of frequency and time, as well as in space and externally applied electric field. We use this special property to demonstrate new types of holograms, which extend conventional spatial-domain optical data storage into the new dimensions. Basic aspects of recording and playback of holograms by persistent spectral hole burning, including relation between frequency- and time-domain response function, is discussed. This paper is elucidating inherent relations between the time- and frequency-domain versions of PSHB holography. We show that by multiplexing holograms in the frequency dimension, we can store a large number (up to 12 000) of image holograms using a single spectral hole burning sample. In the time domain, we show storage and reproduction of ultrashort time-space images on the scale of 10 -12 −10 -13 s. Experiments demonstrating unusual hologram properties, such as causality-related asymmetry of diffraction, inversion of time coordinate, and ultrafast processing, are presented.
Due to the long wavelength of visible light, most straight forward optical methods, like absorption or emission spectroscopy, are not well suited for spectroscopy on a “molecular level”. The hole-burning method is a selective spectroscopy scheme based on energy selection. This method yields, at low temperatures, very high spectral resolution and, hence, can be used to investigate molecular environments and molecular potentials. With the simultaneous application of external fields the hole-burning technique is a true two-dimensional spectroscopy method. Hole-burning can also be used for enhancing the schemes of presently used optical memories by many orders of magnitude. In this context new developments based on the use of semiconductor laser diodes are reported. The question of the requirement of low temperatures is also critically reviewed and, finally, a comparison between mesoscopic storage schemes and molecular schemes is given.
One very exciting application of laser spectroscopy would be to use the high-resolution capabilities of today’s lasers and the phenomenon of persistent spectral hole-burning to form a frequency domain optical storage system.1 In such a system, bits of information would be stored by locally modifying (in the frequency domain) the shape of an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line of an absorber in a solid at low temperatures. Because typical homogeneous widths are 1000X (or more) narrower than typical inhomogeneous widths, as many as 1000 bits could be written in one diffraction-limited 1-μm spot In a sample, yielding the impressive storage density of 1011 bits/cm2.