High Resolution Optical Spectroscopy and Magnetic Properties of Yb3+ in Y2SiO5

TL;DR

This study investigates the optical and magnetic properties of Yb3+ ions in Y2SiO5 crystals, highlighting its potential for quantum memory applications due to favorable spectral and hyperfine characteristics.

Contribution

The paper provides detailed measurements of optical and magnetic parameters of Yb3+ in Y2SiO5, including linewidths, lifetimes, and Zeeman tensors, advancing understanding for quantum technology use.

Findings

Yb3+ exhibits narrow inhomogeneous linewidths in Y2SiO5.

The Zeeman and hyperfine tensors indicate suitable coherence properties.

Yb3+:Y2SiO5 shows promise for solid-state quantum memories.

Abstract

Rare earth doped crystals are promising systems for quantum information processing. In particular paramagnetic rare earths could be used to build coherent interfaces with optical and microwave photons. In addition, isotopes with non zero nuclear spins could provide long lived states for quantum state storage and processing. Yb3+ is particularly interesting in this respect since it is the only paramagnetic rare earth with a spin 1/2 isotope, which corresponds to the simplest possible level structure. In this paper, we report on the optical and magnetic properties of Yb3+ in the two sites of Y2SiO5, a commonly used crystal for quantum applications. We measured optical inhomogeneous linewidths, peak absorption coefficients, oscillator strengths, excited state lifetimes and fuorescence branching ratios. The Zeeman tensors were also determined in the ground and excited states, as well as the ground state hyperfine tensor for the 171Yb3+ (I = 1=2) isotope. These results suggest that Yb3+:Y2SiO5 is a promising material for applications like solid state optical and microwave quantum memories.