High-security-level multi-dimensional optical storage medium: nanostructured glass embedded with LiGa5O8: Mn2+ with photostimulated luminescence

Optics: Next generation of optical data storage systems An optical data storage (ODS) system that is cost-effective to make and easily scalable could lay the foundations for data storage technologies with higher capacity and improved security. The era of big data is driving the need for data storage systems with larger capacity, better security and improved performance. However, even the latest two-dimensional optical disk technologies cannot store more than one terabyte of data, leading scientists to explore alternative technologies. Now, a team of Chinese researchers, led by Yuansheng Wang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a three-dimensional ODS system that uses light-emitting nanocrystals (NCs) to store and retrieve information. Made from a transparent glass ceramic embedded with photostimulated luminescent rare-earth-doped metallic NCs, the new ODS system can store 3D optical data with increased capacity and improved security compared with current technologies. The launch of the big data era puts forward challenges for information preservation technology, both in storage capacity and security. Herein, a brand new optical storage medium, transparent glass ceramic (TGC) embedded with photostimulated LiGa5O8: Mn2+ nanocrystals, capable of achieving bit-by-bit optical data write-in and read-out in a photon trapping/detrapping mode, is developed. The highly ordered nanostructure enables light-matter interaction with high encoding/decoding resolution and low bit error rate. Importantly, going beyond traditional 2D optical storage, the high transparency of the studied bulk medium makes 3D volumetric optical data storage (ODS) possible, which brings about the merits of expanded storage capacity and improved information security. Demonstration application confirmed the erasable-rewritable 3D storage of binary data and display items in TGC with intensity/wavelength multiplexing. The present work highlights a great leap in photostimulated material for ODS application and hopefully stimulates the development of new multi-dimensional ODS media.