Characterization of Er3+:YVO4 for microwave to optical transduction

Rare-earth-ion doped crystals are a promising platform for applications in microwave-to-optical transduction. Erbium is of special interest because of its telecom wavelength optical transitions. This work investigates the optical and electron-spin properties of Er${}^{3+}$:YVO${}_{4}$. An initial transduction of classical microwave signal using this material is demonstrated. The measured strong optical dipole moment and narrow ensemble inhomogeneities make Er${}^{3+}$:YVO${}_{4}$ a promising material for microwave-to-optical transduction.