Room Temperature Persistent Spectral Hole Burning in Sm-Doped SrFCl 1/2 Br 1/2 Mixed Crystals

Abstract

Two-photon persistent hole burning is observed at T = 296 K in ⁵D₁–⁷F₀ and ⁵D₀–⁷F₀ transitions of Sm²⁺ ions in substitutionally disordered SrFCl_1/2 single crystals, showing the ratio of inhomogeneous to homogeneous linewidth of 20 ÷ 25. The minimum hole widths of 3.5 cm^-1 and 2.6 cm^-1, respectively, were determined for these transitions. In fact, the applicability of persistent spectral hole burning, known as a low-temperature high-resolution spectroscopic method and a potential basis for the use of a new–spectral–dimension in optical data storage and processing, is demonstrated for the first time at room temperature in inorganic materials.