Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/51508

Title

Five-dimensional optical recording mediated by surface plasmons in gold nanorods

Author(s)

Zijlstra, Peter;  Chon, James W. M.;  Gu, Min

Abstract

Multiplexed optical recording provides an unparalleled approach to increasing the information density beyond 1012 bits per cm3 (1 Tbit cm-3) by storing multiple, individually addressable patterns within the same recording volume. Although wavelength, polarization and spatial dimensions have all been exploited for multiplexing, these approaches have never been integrated into a single technique that could ultimately increase the information capacity by orders of magnitude. The major hurdle is the lack of a suitable recording medium that is extremely selective in the domains of wavelength and polarization and in the three spatial domains, so as to provide orthogonality in all five dimensions. Here we show true five-dimensional optical recording by exploiting the unique properties of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of gold nanorods. The longitudinal SPR exhibits an excellent wavelength and polarization sensitivity, whereas the distinct energy threshold required for the photothermal recording mechanism provides the axial selectivity. The recordings were detected using longitudinal SPR-mediated two-photon luminescence, which we demonstrate to possess an enhanced wavelength and angular selectivity compared to conventional linear detection mechanisms. Combined with the high cross-section of two-photon luminescence, this enabled non-destructive, crosstalk-free readout. This technique can be immediately applied to optical patterning, encryption and data storage, where higher data densities are pursued.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences. Centre for Micro-Photonics

Source

Nature, Vol. 459 (May 2009), pp. 410-413

Publication year

2009

Keyword(s)

Data storage;  Gold nanorods;  Optical patterning

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

ISSN

0028-0836

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature08053

Copyright

Copyright © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Copyright

The full text of this article will be available 6 months after publication (October 2009). For more information, please refer to the journal's website or contact the authors.

Additional information

The authors acknowledge the LINTEC Corporation for supplying the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the Australian Research Council for financial support. Supplementary material for this paper can be found here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7245/suppinfo/nature08053.html.

Peer reviewed