Improved Crystals for Optical Memories

A Phase I research program is proposed with two primary technical objectives that are critical to the development of real optical memory devices based on solid state materials. The first objective will be to characterize striae in optical memory materials and subsequently grow improved reduced striae crystals. Striae is currently limiting the performance of technololgies based on these materials. Researchers involved in optical memory systems have conveyed that this is one of the largest technical issues associated with the viability of these systems. The second objective is to develop a commercial source of materials for research in photon-gated holeburning. This technique has the potential for permanent storage, has nondestructive readout of the data, and is the most feasible for higher temperature operation of devices based on persistent spectral holeburning.