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 Optics

Hole burning, Stark effect, and data storage: 2: holographic recording and detection of spectral holes

Cosimo De, Alois Renn, Urs P. Wild

Published Jul 10, 1991• 28 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1364/ao.30.002890

Related papers

Holographic Spectral Hole Burning: From Data Storage to Information Processing

Cosimo De, Stefan Bernet, Alois Renn +1 more

The advantage of holography shows up in various technical applications. As a natural feature of holography one gains the possibility of parallel data manipulation. This chapter describes some of these applications. For instance, using phase-controlled holography it has been possible to store 2000 gray-level holograms in one spectral hole burning sample. On the other hand, logical operations, so called “molecular computing,” between data arrays are possible by generating electric field induced interferometric superpositions of holograms with a controlled phase relationship. The chapter explains the principles of holographic hole burning and provides a brief overview of the physical mechanisms of spectral hole burning. It presents an experimental arrangement for spectral hole burning, as well as the relevant results. The chapter also shows that the combination of holography with molecular properties (the Stark splitting of absorption holes in an externally applied electric field) allows nontrivial processing of data.

CRC Press eBooks•Jul 29, 2020•0 citations

Spectral hole burning and holography. III. Electric field induced interference of holograms

Alois Renn, Alfred Johann Meixner, Urs P. Wild

The electric field induced superposition of holograms recorded by spectral hole burning is investigated. Holograms have been burned at adjacent positions in a plane defined by wavelength and electric field. Application of an appropriate electric field to the sample causes the components of adjacent holograms to overlap as the spectral holes split due to Stark shifts of molecular transition frequencies. The diffraction efficiency of such superimposed holograms depends on their relative phase and has been studied theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that for zero phase difference, constructive interference leads to a strong diffraction efficiency whereas for a phase difference of π, the gratings cancel leading to zero diffraction efficiency. Experiments have been performed with the dye cresyl violet in a polyvinylbutyral film at a temperature of 1.7 K and the data are compared with computer simulations.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Aug 15, 1990•21 citations

Holographic optical data storage of 2000 images by photochemical hole burning

Bern Kohler, Stefan Bernet, Alois Renn +1 more

In addition to its importance for the optical spectroscopy of solids, photochemical spectral hole burning (PSHB) has attracted great interest due to its potential use in high density optical data storage [1]. By encoding information as a function of frequency an enormous increase in storage is possible compared to conventional optical storage materials. The most optimistic estimates predict an increase given by the ratio of the inhomogeneous linewidth to the homogeneous linewidth of the optical transition responsible for hole burning. Until now, however, there have been relatively few investigations of the practical limitations to storing a large number of spectral holes [2,3]. We describe here a recent experiment in which 2000 grayscale images were successfully recorded as holograms in the PSHB material chlorin in polyvinylbutyral. In holographic spectral hole burning the relative phase of the interfering light waves used to prepare the hologram has a strong influence on diffraction properties and, hence, on crosstalk between adjacent holograms [4]. By controlling the phase and frequency during burning in a novel manner, we have minimized crosstalk between the stored images.

Spectral Hole-Burning and Related Spectroscopies: Science and Applications•Jan 1, 1991•2 citations

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

Recording of 6000 holograms by use of spectral hole burning

Eric S. Maniloff, Stefan B. Altner, Stefan Bernet +3 more

Experiments verifying a new method of storing spectral hole-burning holograms, which yields reduced cross talk as compared with standard spectral hole-burning holograms, have been conducted. Results demonstrating the reduced width of this type of hologram in both frequency and the applied electric-field dimension are presented. Analytic solutions for the spectral width and diffraction efficiency of these holograms are presented. Using this exposure technique, we have recorded 6000 holograms in a single spectral hole-burning sample.

Applied Optics•Jul 10, 1995•30 citations

Spectral hole-burning holography in optical memory systems

Eric S. Maniloff, Stefan B. Altner, Stefan Bernet +3 more

Experiments verifying a new method of storing spectral hole burning holograms, which yields reduced crosstalk, have been conducted. Results demonstrating the reduced width of this type of hologram in both frequency and applied electric field are presented. Using this technique, 6000 holograms have been recorded in a single spectral hole burning sample.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 9, 1993•4 citations
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.
The advantage of holography shows up in various technical applications. As a natural feature of holography one gains the possibility of parallel data manipulation. This chapter describes some of these applications. For instance, using phase-controlled holography it has been possible to store 2000 gray-level holograms in one spectral hole burning sample. On the other hand, logical operations, so called “molecular computing,” between data arrays are possible by generating electric field induced interferometric superpositions of holograms with a controlled phase relationship. The chapter explains the principles of holographic hole burning and provides a brief overview of the physical mechanisms of spectral hole burning. It presents an experimental arrangement for spectral hole burning, as well as the relevant results. The chapter also shows that the combination of holography with molecular properties (the Stark splitting of absorption holes in an externally applied electric field) allows nontrivial processing of data.
The electric field induced superposition of holograms recorded by spectral hole burning is investigated. Holograms have been burned at adjacent positions in a plane defined by wavelength and electric field. Application of an appropriate electric field to the sample causes the components of adjacent holograms to overlap as the spectral holes split due to Stark shifts of molecular transition frequencies. The diffraction efficiency of such superimposed holograms depends on their relative phase and has been studied theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that for zero phase difference, constructive interference leads to a strong diffraction efficiency whereas for a phase difference of π, the gratings cancel leading to zero diffraction efficiency. Experiments have been performed with the dye cresyl violet in a polyvinylbutyral film at a temperature of 1.7 K and the data are compared with computer simulations.
In addition to its importance for the optical spectroscopy of solids, photochemical spectral hole burning (PSHB) has attracted great interest due to its potential use in high density optical data storage [1]. By encoding information as a function of frequency an enormous increase in storage is possible compared to conventional optical storage materials. The most optimistic estimates predict an increase given by the ratio of the inhomogeneous linewidth to the homogeneous linewidth of the optical transition responsible for hole burning. Until now, however, there have been relatively few investigations of the practical limitations to storing a large number of spectral holes [2,3]. We describe here a recent experiment in which 2000 grayscale images were successfully recorded as holograms in the PSHB material chlorin in polyvinylbutyral. In holographic spectral hole burning the relative phase of the interfering light waves used to prepare the hologram has a strong influence on diffraction properties and, hence, on crosstalk between adjacent holograms [4]. By controlling the phase and frequency during burning in a novel manner, we have minimized crosstalk between the stored images.
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.
Experiments verifying a new method of storing spectral hole-burning holograms, which yields reduced cross talk as compared with standard spectral hole-burning holograms, have been conducted. Results demonstrating the reduced width of this type of hologram in both frequency and the applied electric-field dimension are presented. Analytic solutions for the spectral width and diffraction efficiency of these holograms are presented. Using this exposure technique, we have recorded 6000 holograms in a single spectral hole-burning sample.