Spectral Hole-Burning of Eu³⁺ :Y₂SiO₅ Crystal at 16K

By using an Ar⁺ ion laser, a tunable Rh 6G dye laser (linewidth 0.5cm^-1) pumped by the second harmonic of a YAG:Nd laser and a Coherent 899-21 dye laser as light sources and using a monochromator, a phase-locking amplifier and a computer as the data detecting system, we detect the optical properties of Eu³⁺-doped Y₂SiO ₅ crystal. Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) are observed in the Eu ³⁺ ions spectral lines (⁵D₀- ⁷F₀ transition)
in the crystal at the temperature of 16K. For 15mW dye laser burning the crystal for 0.1s spectral holes with hole width about 80MHz both at 579.62nm and at 579.82nm are detected and the holes can remain for a long time, more than 10h.