Optimizing erbium doped materials for optical processing, memory, and laser frequency stabilization applications at 1.5 /spl mu/m

Dramatically lengthened coherence lifetimes in erbium doped crystals for spatial-spectral holography applications at 1.5 /spl mu/m were obtained through optimization of multiple material design parameters. Microscopic processes responsible for spin dynamics were elucidated and quantitatively modeled.