Open AccessPlasmonic nano-structures for optical data storage
Author(s) -
Masud Mansuripur,
Armis R. Zakharian,
Antoine Lesuffleur,
SangHyun Oh,
R. Jason Jones,
Nathan C. Lindquist,
Hyungsoon Im,
A. Kobyakov,
Jerome V. Moloney
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.014001
Subject(s) - 3d optical data storage , optical storage , optics , plasmon , materials science , optoelectronics , computer data storage , laser , nanophotonics , femtosecond , optical tweezers , physics , computer science , operating system
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.