[News] Empowered by New Technology: Is Optical Disk Storage Set for a Comeback?

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Media report that researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) have developed a new optical storage technology that could surpass the density limitations of traditional optical disks, achieving ultra-high-density storage.

In the past, a key challenge for traditional optical storage was the diffraction limit of light. Since the size of each data unit cannot be smaller than the wavelength of the read-write laser beam, there is an upper limit to the density of current optical storage.

The researchers proposed a method to circumvent this limitation by using wavelength-division multiplexing. They embedded rare-earth emitters, such as magnesium oxide crystals, within the material. Each emitter uses a slightly different wavelength, allowing more data to be stored within the same physical space.

The report states that researchers initially modeled and simulated the physical principles of this technology and designed a theoretical solid material containing rare-earth atoms. This material can absorb and re-emit photons, while nearby quantum defects can capture and store these photons. One significant discovery was that when defects absorb narrow-wavelength energy from nearby atoms, their spin state flips. Once the spin state flips, it is nearly impossible to revert, which means these defects can store data for an extended period.

The report emphasizes that, although this is a promising initial test, there are still some key issues to address before commercialization. For instance, the durability of these emitters needs to be verified. Additionally, the researchers have not provided specific capacity estimates, merely suggesting the potential for “ultra-high density.” Despite these challenges, the researchers are optimistic about the future of this technology, calling it a major advancement in storage technology.

 

 
 
(Photo credit: IBM)