Dépt. de Chimie Physique, Université de Genève
30, Quai E. Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Suisse
When modern spectral hole burning applications for high-density
information storage under noncryogenic temperatures are envisioned,
it is necessary to develop new frequency-selective photoactive
materials for this purpose. Mixed compounds of the PbFCl family,
doped with samarium(II) ions, exhibit promising and true
room-temperature hole burning capabilities. We investigate this
class of systems (and related ones) by combining material synthesis
and high-resolution spectroscopy. Whole groups of isomorphous crystals
were synthesized with varying degrees of halide anion and/or cation
substitutions. Thin films of fluoride-based materials were made in a
laboratory-built molecular beam epitaxy system. An extended x-ray
study, differential thermal analysis, luminescence, and Raman
measurements allowed the characterization of the materials.
Formal models were developed for both the inhomogeneous zero-phonon
optical line shapes of the samarium(II) and the time evolution of
the hole burning.