Photon echoes produced by switching electric fields.
We demonstrate photon echoes in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 by controlling the inhomogeneous broadening of the Eu3+ 7F0<-->5D0 optical transition. This transition has a linear Stark shift, and we induce inhomogeneous broadening by applying an external electric field gradient. After optical excitation, reversing the polarity of the field rephases the ensemble, resulting in a photon echo. This is the first demonstration of such a photon echo, and its application as a quantum memory is discussed.
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
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AL
Alexander
J J
JJ
Longdell
M J
MJ
Sellars
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NB
Manson