  Based on the similarity of paraxial diffraction and dispersion mathematical
descriptions, the temporal imaging of optical pulses combines linear dispersive
filters and quadratic phase modulations operating as time lenses. We consider
programming a dispersive filter near atomic resonance in rare earth ion doped
crystals, which leads to unprecedented high values of dispersive power. This
filter is used in an approximate imaging scheme, combining a single time lens
and a single dispersive section and operating as a time reversing device, with
potential applications in radio-frequency signal processing. This scheme is
closely related to three-pulse photon echo with chirped pulses but the
connection with temporal imaging and dispersive filtering emphasizes new
features.
