Data storage with enhanced Young's modulus in nanoplasma composite glass

introduction

According to the latest report of the International Data Corporation (IDC) 2017 White Paper, the information growth rate is much faster than the 2010 and 2012 forecasts. By 2025, the total data volume will reach 160 ZB (109 TB), which is better than 2012. The forecast is four times higher. The rapid development of big data centers has inspired scientists and engineers to study and record phenomena that have persisted for hundreds of years, with long-term data. Research in astrophysics, biology, geography, social sciences, and business has produced a large amount of data that must last a long time to make sense. In astronomy, the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope produces 576 PB (PB) of raw data per hour, and the success of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) has driven the observation of large astronomical events, gravitational waves. In this case, it is necessary to repeatedly record and read terabytes of data in one storage device, and the baseline is unchanged for a century.

Summary of results

Recently, the team of Min Gu (Corresponding author) of Swinburne University of Technology demonstrated the concept of optical long data storage using nano-plasma hybrid glass composites. By incorporating the nanorods into the hybrid glass composite without sintering, the Young's modulus is increased by one to two orders of magnitude. This discovery allows for the remodeling of plasma nanoparticles of various lengths, enabling continuous multi-level recording and reading over a period of more than 600 years, with capacities exceeding 10 gigabytes and no significant change in baseline. Long-term data memory brings new opportunities. Related results were published on Nat. Commun. under the title "High-capacity optical long data memory ba sed on enhanced Young's modulus in nanoplasmo nic hybrid glass composites".

Graphic guide

Fig.1 Century optical data memory with nano-plasma hybrid glass composite baseline unchanged

Figure 2 Long life of optical data memory for nanoplasma composite glass materials

a) Young's modulus (Y) of nanoplasma mixed glass with different inorganic percentages

b) lifetime of gold nanorods in nanoplasma composite glass materials with different Young's moduli

c) Simplified effective energy barrier model for data memory with gold nanorods

Figure 3 The optical long data storage has a benchmark for recording and reading processes for hundreds of years.

a) Comparison of fluorescent images of different recording and reading time patterns

b) Multilayer optical data memory, three layers spaced 1.5 μm, with two polarization states

c) Four-level optical data memory mode in nanoplasma composite glass materials

summary

This work can be the cornerstone of the future of optical long-distance data centers for centuries, stimulating the potential for understanding the long-term processes of astronomy, geology, biology and history. It also offers new opportunities for high-reliability optical data storage that can continue to operate under extreme conditions such as high temperatures and high pressures.