Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/75011

Title

Review of optical data storage

Author(s)

Day, Daniel;  Gu, Min;  Smallridge, Andrew

Abstract

As the computer industry grows, so will the requirements for data storage. Magnetic memory has been the most stable method in terms of capacity and recording/reading speed. However, we have reached the point where a substantial increase in the capacity cannot be produced without increasing the size of the system. When compact discs (CDs) were introduced in the 1980s they revolutionized the concept of data storage. Since their inception, the capacity requirements have far exceeded what is available on a compact disc, and they are now following the same path as magnetic memories. Following this trend, it could be assumed that digital versatile discs or digital video discs (DVDs) have a limited lifetime as a storage medium. In fact it has been noted that the maximum capacity of DVDs will be reached in 3-5 years. The question then is what comes next. This chapter aims to illustrate the technology involved in current optical storage methods as well as to introduce several new concepts of optical storage. It is envisaged that a storage system based on either solid immersion lens, holography or three-dimensional bit recording could be the way of the future. The development of optical technology has revolutionized the way we communicate between people or between computers. As society continues to require better tools to communicate more data at higher rates, so does it require the ability to store larger amounts of information. Since the invention of the first computer there has always existed the need for some form of information storage system other than printed hardcopies. One of the first of such systems was computer ribbon; although somewhat awkward it freed the user from having to input the required information at the beginning of every session. At the time this was one of the greatest advances in computer technology. Several other data storage systems have followed over the years, and each time there has been a limit to the amount of information that could be stored.

Publication type

Book chapter

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. School of Biophysical Sciences and Electrical Engineering. Centre for Micro-Photonics

Source

Topics in applied physics: infrared holography for optical communication: techniques, materials and devices / P. Boffi, D. Piccinin and M. C. Ubaldi (eds.), pp. 1-22

Publication year

2003

Keyword(s)

Optical data storage

Publisher

Springer

ISBN

9783540433149, 3540433147

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45852-2_1

Copyright

Copyright © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.

Peer reviewed