Hyperfine structure and homogeneous broadening inPr3+:KY(WO4)2

Abstract

As part of a search for suitable materials for coherent quantum operations, relaxation times and hyperfine structure of the D-1(2)(1)-H-3(4)(1) transition in Pr3+:KY(WO4)(2) (0.29 at. %) at 4 K have been obtained using photon-echo and spectral hole burning techniques. The homogeneous linewidth and the effect of excitation-induced dephasing were measured using two-pulse photon-echo techniques. Linewidths of 23.4+/-1.0 and 17.6+/-0.9 kHz were obtained in the absence and presence of an external magnetic field of about 9 mT. The radiative lifetime (T-1) of the D-1(2) state was measured to be 43+/-2 mus using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence and three-pulse photon-echo measurements. The transmission hole spectra were measured and directly yielded the quadrupole level splitting in the D-1(2) (3.77+/-0.03 and 4.58+/-0.04 MHz) and H-3(4) (17.1+/-0.1 and 33.2+/-0.3 MHz) states. The spectral hole lifetime due to population redistribution between the ground-state nuclear levels was also determined to be 70+/-10 ms. A strong dipole-dipole interaction observed in this crystal opens for potential applications in quantum computing schemes for performing quantum logic operations, but the short dephasing time makes it less useful in data storage applications. (Less)