Homogeneous linewidth of the I_11/2--I_15/2 optical transition of erbium in LiNbO_3:Er^3+

TL;DR

This paper proposes a pulsed pump-probe method to measure the homogeneous linewidth of erbium ions in LiNbO_3 crystals and estimates related relaxation times, advancing solid-state optical spectroscopy techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a simple measurement scheme for homogeneous linewidths in inhomogeneously broadened solid-state systems, specifically applied to erbium-doped lithium niobate.

Findings

Measured the homogeneous linewidth of the I_11/2 -- I_15/2 transition.

Estimated the population relaxation time of erbium ions.

Validated the effectiveness of the proposed measurement scheme.

Abstract

We work out a simple, pulsed pump-probe measurement scheme to measure the homogeneous linewidth of an atomic transition in an inhomogeneously broadened spectral line in a solid state environment. We apply the theory to the I_11/2 -- I_15/2 optical transition of erbium in LiNbO_3:Er^3+ crystal. Beside obtaining the homogeneous linewidth, we have estimated the population relaxation time as well.