Optical storage material based on doped fluoride crystals

The mechanisms of photo- and thermochemical reactions of color centers and colloids in MeF2:A (Me=Ca, Sr; A=Li, Na, K) are presented. It is shown that the bleaching of N centers in freshly additive colored crystals results in the formation of either simple color centers (M, R) or large anion vacancies aggregates – colloids. Having investigated the properties of such defects three different methods are suggested for writing and storage of the optical information. It is pointed out that some of them may be used for the creation of various devices working in laser cavity, such as laser spatial filter, holographic memory elements, etc.