Abstract

We present a new system for persistent spectral-hole burning at room temperature based on a 2-D collection of fluorescent spherical microparticles with random distribution of sizes. This system, known as a microparticle hole-burning medium (MHBM), uses differences in the frequences of morphology-dependent resonances (MDR) with size to generate a fluorescence excitation Spectrum that is heterogeneous; the frequency of a given MDR is inversely proportional to the particle size. Because the intensity within a particle on resonance can be orders of magnitude above the intensity off resonance, memory may be imprinted by a laser, for example, by preferentially photolyzing molecules within particles having MDRs at resonance with the laser wavelength. Photolysis causes fluorescence to be reduced, thus putting holes into excitation spectrum.

© 1991 Optical Society of America