Affordable Petabyte Storage for Scientific Data Distribution & Archiving

78997S The need for affordable storage and distribution of enormous quantities of scientific/nuclear physics data far outstrips present and extrapolated future capabilities of any available storage technology. Magnetic tape lacks the capacity to efficiently store very large quantities of information and has inadequate data density and media lifetime/permanence. Magnetic hard disk and optical disk storage systems are inherently ill-suited for permanent, low-cost storage of massive data files, and overall operation/maintenance costs are high. This project will develop a new, highly affordable, Thin Layer Optical (TLO) storage concept based on continuous roll-to-roll nanolithography and material coating processes that are capable of low-cost, high-volume manufacture. The new storage medium will provide a capacity-per-unit-volume that greatly exceeds that of any magnetic, optical, or solid state data storage device, and an archival lifetime greater than 50 years. It will be written and read using a novel hardware configuration that uses readily available, low-cost commercial-off-the-shelf components. Phase I will demonstrate proof-of-concept for TLO media. Media samples will be fabricated and characterized. A preliminary assessment of roll-to-roll media manufacturing processes and their (estimated) standard costs also will be conducted. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the cost-effective storage of very large amounts scientific/nuclear physics data, the technology should impact on a wide variety of other applications. Government applications include the recording of homeland-security-related sensor information and the massive archiving of data collected by such agencies as NOAA, NASA, NSA, and the FBI. Industrial/business applications include affordable permanent storage/archiving of financial records, corporate e-mail, medical records, customer records, film and video archives, etc. Other commercial applications include news gathering, digital cinema, HD-video recording, law-enforcement/work-place surveillance, etc.