Ultra-Dense Optical Mass Storage

Abstract : This report summarizes the results obtained and the work performed during the first nine months of an eighteen month program to develop a new ultra dense optical mass storage memory system based on spectral hole burning (SHB) media. The goals of this particular program were to (1) investigate the fundamental properties of a Frequency Channel concept which holds promise for enhancing the resistance to erasure of data recorded in SHB media; (2) investigate the fundamental and practical aspects of the data erasure in SHB media; and (3) to build and test a laboratory demonstration system which has all the key characteristics vital to the operation of this memory system as a digital computer memory system. The experimental aspects of the program have been found to be most efficiently performed by addressing all of the above tasks in parallel, so at present the results obtained are preliminary. The work is in progressing well and is expected to be completed on time.