DYNAMICS OF SPECTRAL HOLES IN RARE-EARTH-DOPED GLASS-FIBERS

Transient holes were burnt and probed with microsecond resolution in t he 5D0 <-- --> F-7(0) transition of Eu3+ doped in a silicate glass fib er. The holes are due to population storage in the 5D0 excited state f or delays of microseconds, and to optical pumping of nuclear quadrupol e levels for delays of seconds. Side- and anti-holes were observed. Th e corresponding nuclear quadrupole splittings vary strongly with excit ation wavelength. Spectral diffusion was found between mus and s. The temperature and wavelength dependence of hole widths was determined.