Long-Lived Photon Echo in Van-Vleck Paramagnetics: Physics and Optical Storage

Abstract

The results of the own experimental and theoretical investigations of the long-lived photon echo (LPE) are reported. The special type of the resonant media, named as Van-Vleck paramagnetics (for example, LaF3:Pr3+), is used in our experiments. The physical mechanisms of LPE-forming are studied in these experiments. The various problems of the optical storage, using LPE, are discussed.