Multi-Layer Optical Mass Storage

Numerous problems in science and engineering require powerful computers with Tera-FLOP speeds which will demand the concurrent availability of mass storage media with T-Byte capacities and data rates exceeding 1 Giga-bit/sec. A new read-write optical storage technology that meets the requirements to enable many processors to work in parallel where data can be stored in three dimensions and retrieved very fast is being introduced by Reveo, Inc. This technology, which will enable the development of materials for optical storage and data retrieval methods without cross-talk between channels, is based on the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer property of selective reflection at a characteristic wavelength. Each layer in a multi-CLC-layer storage medium has a differnt characteristic wavelength, making it possible to randomly select any layer for reading and writing. It is projected that a 16 T-Byte erasable mass storage system with a data rate of 1.6 T-Bit/sec can be built using Reveo's breakthrough technology. In Phase I, a 5-layer storage system will be designed and the feasibility of random layer addressing demonstrated. Phase II will build and demonstrate the new technology, with product development and commercialization in Phase III.