Persistent spectral hole burning in deuterated CaF2 : Tm3+

We report spectral hole burning in the deuteride (D-) modified Tm3+ centers in CaF2, where the hole burning mechanism is known to involve localized di splacement of the D- ions. Two main families of Tm3+-D- centers are present ; the Li centers yield spectral holes that have been measured to be fully p ersistent for 48 hours at liquid-helium temperatures, while spectral holes of thr Mi centers have a hole-recovery time constant of approximately 20-30 s. Hole widths vary from 18-40 MHz (full width at half maximum) for the di fferent centers. Burn-down curves are in agreement with a simple and genera l model that takes into account the finite homogeneous linewidth but makes no other assumptions about the nature of the hole burning mechanism. The ar ea of the spectral holes is found to be conserved after the sample temperat ure has been cycled to up to 70 K, while the hole profile is broadened by t his process.