title: Ultraslow light propagation in an inhomogeneously broadened rare-earth ion-doped crystal.
abstract: We show that coherent population oscillations effect allows us to burn a narrow spectral hole (26 Hz) within the homogeneous absorption line of the optical transition of an erbium ion-doped crystal. The large dispersion of the index of refraction associated with this hole permits us to achieve a group velocity as low as 2.7 m/s with a transmission of 40%. We especially benefit from the inhomogeneous absorption broadening of the ions to tune both the transmission coefficient, from 40% to 90%, and the light group velocity from 2.7 m/s to 100 m/s.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures LPN-CNRS UPR 020, Route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldit
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bencheikh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monnier
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Levenson
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rouget