Observation of persistent multiple-holes for 4F3/2(1)-4I9/2 transition of Nd3+ ion doped silicate glass fiber using diode laser

A multiple-hole structure with a center hole of more than 20% depth was observed in the persistent hale-burning spectroscopy for the F-4(3/2)(1)-I-4(9/2) transition of the Nd3+ doped silicate glass fiber at 1.5 K using a diode laser. The multiple-hole structure was attributed to the hyperfine interaction between the effective electron spin and the nuclear spin of the Nd3+ ion. The hole grow and decay processes were observed to be logarithmic time-dependent. Finally the demonstration of optical memory was presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.