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Spectral Hole-Burning and Related Spectroscopies: Science and Applications

Holographic optical data storage of 2000 images by photochemical hole burning

Bern Kohler, Stefan Bernet, Alois Renn, Urs P. Wild

Published Jan 1, 1991• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1364/pshb.1991.thc3

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

Cosimo De, Alois Renn, Urs P. Wild

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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Holographic Hole Burning

Alois Renn, Stefan Bernet, Bern Kohler +1 more

Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) [1] allows for frequency selective recording of holograms and opens interesting prospects for high density optical information storage and processing. When hole burning is performed with the interference pattern of two crossed laser beams a spectrally narrow hole is created in an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band and simultaneously the spatial fringe pattern is recorded as a modulation of the hole depth. During reconstruction of the hologram diffraction from this spatial fringe pattern occurs, reflecting the changes of the absorption coefficient and the refractive index introduced by the spectral hole [2].

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

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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

Holography in Frequency Selective Media: Hologram Phase and Causality

Stefan Bernet, Bern Kohler, Alexander Rebane +2 more

Persistent spectral hole burning [1] in conjunction with holography (PSHB) opens new prospects for high density optical information storage and processing. In the holographic approach, hole burning is carried out with two -crossed coherent laser beams which bleach out a narrow frequency domain hole in an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band recording, at the same time, a spatial holographic fringe pattern. During read out of the hologram diffraction from this spatial fringe pattern occurs, and a holographic image is reconstructed, reflecting the changes of the absorption coefficient and the refractive index introduced by the spectral hole [2].

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

Persistent Spectral Hole Burning: Time- and Space-Domain Holography

Karl K. Rebane, Alexander Rebane

Persistent spectral hole burning (PHSB) provides a unique possibility of controlling, by means of illumination with high spectral resolution, optical properties, the coefficient of absorption and the index of refraction in the impurity absorption band of doped solid materials. New versions of holography are the most successful application of PSHB data storage and processing. It utilizes both distributed storage and parallel processing and demonstrates the advantages and potentials of PSHB in this field. An interesting property of time and space-domain holograms occurs in connection with external electric fields: the pseudo-Stark splitting of narrow spectral holes due to the linear Stark effect in an external electric field manifests itself as an additional modulation of holographically stored signals in the time domain. The idea of PSHB time- and space-domain holography is simple. When a PSHB sample is illuminated by a pulse of light, the intensity (more precisely, the doses of illumination), in dependence of the frequency, is stored in the hole profile.

CRC Press eBooks•Jul 29, 2020•1 citation
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.
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) [1] allows for frequency selective recording of holograms and opens interesting prospects for high density optical information storage and processing. When hole burning is performed with the interference pattern of two crossed laser beams a spectrally narrow hole is created in an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band and simultaneously the spatial fringe pattern is recorded as a modulation of the hole depth. During reconstruction of the hologram diffraction from this spatial fringe pattern occurs, reflecting the changes of the absorption coefficient and the refractive index introduced by the spectral hole [2].
Persistent spectral hole burning [1] in conjunction with holography (PSHB) opens new prospects for high density optical information storage and processing. In the holographic approach, hole burning is carried out with two -crossed coherent laser beams which bleach out a narrow frequency domain hole in an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band recording, at the same time, a spatial holographic fringe pattern. During read out of the hologram diffraction from this spatial fringe pattern occurs, and a holographic image is reconstructed, reflecting the changes of the absorption coefficient and the refractive index introduced by the spectral hole [2].
Persistent spectral hole burning (PHSB) provides a unique possibility of controlling, by means of illumination with high spectral resolution, optical properties, the coefficient of absorption and the index of refraction in the impurity absorption band of doped solid materials. New versions of holography are the most successful application of PSHB data storage and processing. It utilizes both distributed storage and parallel processing and demonstrates the advantages and potentials of PSHB in this field. An interesting property of time and space-domain holograms occurs in connection with external electric fields: the pseudo-Stark splitting of narrow spectral holes due to the linear Stark effect in an external electric field manifests itself as an additional modulation of holographically stored signals in the time domain. The idea of PSHB time- and space-domain holography is simple. When a PSHB sample is illuminated by a pulse of light, the intensity (more precisely, the doses of illumination), in dependence of the frequency, is stored in the hole profile.