A New Optical Storage System with Terabit-Per-Second Readout

70108 There is an ever-increasing need for storage of larger quantities of data and for more rapid readout. This project will develop a new volumetric data storage method with far greater capacity and much faster readout than any other now existing or in development. The bits, stored as connections between optical waveguides, are both written and read with lasers, making the readout very fast, a Terabit/s or more. The technique avoids crosstalk due to medium nonlinearity, has no need for thermal fixing of data, and requires only ordinary materials, polymers and metal, for the storage medium. In Phase I, waveguide structures will be fabricated and tested. The coupling between waveguides that stores a one will be analyzed in detail and the writing of data will be demonstrated. Finally, ways to increase writing speed will be identified. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: A new data storage system with very rapid readout should have application to the maintenance and use of large databases (particularly image databases such in medical, scientific, government, and military environments) and to the mass recording of large digital video information for the entertainment industry.