Ultralong optical dephasing time in Eu(3+):Y(2)SiO(5).

Area of Science:

• Solid-state spectroscopy
• Quantum optics
• Materials science

Background:

• Europium ions (Eu3+) are crucial for optical applications due to their unique spectroscopic properties.
• Understanding local-field effects and dephasing is essential for developing advanced optical materials.
• Yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5) is a promising host material for rare-earth ions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure linear and nonlinear spectroscopic properties of the Eu3+ (7)F0-(5)D0 transition in Y2SiO5.
• To investigate spectral characteristics and dephasing times at different crystallographic sites.
• To identify potential for long-coherence optical applications.

Main Methods:

• Linear and nonlinear spectroscopy techniques were employed.
• Photoluminescence and hole spectra were analyzed.
• Inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidths were measured to determine dephasing times.

Main Results:

• Two distinct Eu3+ sites were identified with different spectral features.
• Site-specific differences in inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidths were observed.
• The less affected site exhibited a dephasing time of 822 microseconds, the longest recorded for a solid, with a homogeneous linewidth of 387 Hz.

Conclusions:

• The Eu3+:Y2SiO5 system exhibits site-dependent spectroscopic properties.
• The observed long dephasing time indicates minimal spectral diffusion and high coherence.
• This material shows significant potential for applications in quantum information processing and optical data storage.