Memorized polarization-dependent light scattering in rare-earth-ion-doped glass

Description/Abstract

We report the observation of memorized polarization-dependent light scattering in a Eu2 + -doped fluoroaluminate glass sample. Anisotropic light scattering along the plane of the light polarization was observed in the glass sample after the excitation of a focused 800 nm, 150 fs laser beam at a repetition rate of 200 kHz. When we changed the direction of the light polarization and irradiated the same location, we observed an anisotropic light-scattering pattern identical to the original one at the beginning, but then observed a new pattern along the new direction of the light polarization while the original light-scattering pattern disappeared gradually with the passage of time. This observed phenomenon was considered to be due to the light scattering of the polarization-dependent permanent microstructure induced by the polarized ultrashort pulsed laser itself.