Plasmonic nano-structures for optical data storage.
We propose a method of optical data storage that exploits the small dimensions of metallic nano-particles and/or nano-structures to achieve high storage densities. The resonant behavior of these particles (both individually and in small clusters) in the presence of ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light may be used to retrieve pre-recorded information by far-field spectroscopic optical detection. In plasmonic data storage, a very short (approximately few femtoseconds) laser pulse is focused to a diffraction-limited spot over a small region of an optical disk containing metallic nano-structures. The digital data stored in each bit-cell, comprising multiple bits of information, modifies the spectrum of the incident light pulse. This spectrum is subsequently detected, upon reflection/transmission, with the aid of an optical spectrum analyzer. We present theoretical as well as preliminary experimental results that confirm the potential of plasmonic nano-structures for high-density optical data storage applications.
Mansuripur
M
M
College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Zakharian
A R
AR
Lesuffleur
A
A
Oh
Sang-Hyun
SH
Jones
R J
RJ
Lindquist
N C
NC
Im
Hyungsoon
H
Kobyakov
A
A
Moloney
J V
JV
D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055096:Optical Devices; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*