title: Nondestructive readout of a three-dimensional photochromic optical memory with a near-infrared differential phase-contrast microscope.
abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) rewritable optical memory using photochromic material is described for high-density memory. The bits are recorded in a 3D volume of photochromic material. A transformation of the photochromic molecule between two isomers with different absorption spectra can be stimulated by irradiation with appropriate wavelengths. We show that a nondestructive readout of photochromic memory is possible by use of a small difference in the refractive index of the photochromic isomers in the near-IR range. For this purpose a near-IR laser-scan differential phase-contrast microscope is used. Experimental results of 3D recording and nondestructive reading are presented.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toriumi
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata