Light storage protocols in Tm:YAG

We present two quantum memory protocols for solids: a stopped light approach based on spectral hole burning and a storage in an atomic frequency comb. These procedures are well adapted to the rare-earth ion doped crystals. We carefully clarify the critical steps of both. In one case, we show that the slowing-down due to hole-burning is sufficient to produce a complete mapping of field into the atomic system. On the other side, we explain the storage and retrieval mechanism of the Atomic Frequency Comb protocol. These two critical stages of the protocols are implemented experimentally in Tm(3+) -doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet crystal. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.