Optical storage using refractive index changes induced by two-step excitation

Abstract

Multiphoton excitation allows reversible photorefractive recording without the disadvantage of erasure during readout. The light intensity required for two-photon storage can be drastically reduced if two-step excitation via long†lived real intermediate states is used. Experimental results for LiNbO3:Cr3+ and LiTaO3:Cr3+ demonstrate the advantages of the two-step process. The energy and intensity requirements for optical two-step recording are within reach of presently available repetitively pulsed lasers.