Efficient operation of atomic frequency comb optical memory using an optical frequency comb in 167Er3+:Y2SiO5

Abstract

We demonstrated a highly efficient optical memory operation using an atomic frequency comb (AFC) created from a spectrally flattened optical frequency comb with an isotopically pure 167Er3+:Y2SiO5 crystal under zero magnetic field. Compared with standard AFC creation methods such as pulse train method, our method, called comb transfer method, can create a broadband and high-efficiency AFC at lower power and with less effort. This technique can make a significant improvement in the quality of AFCs in crystals doped with low concentrations of rare-earth ions.