Holographic data storage is a potential technology in the
area of high-capacity data storage presently predominated by magnetic and conventional
optical data storage. Magnetic and optical data storage devices rely on individual
bits being stored as distinct magnetic or optical alterations on the surface of
the recording medium. Holographic data storage subdues this restriction by registering
data throughout the volume of the medium and is capable of recording multiplex images
in the same surface using light at different angles.
In addition, where magnetic and optical data storage records
data a bit at a time in a lengthwise fashion, holographic storage is capable of
writing and scanning millions of bits in parallel, enabling data transfer rates
larger than those attained by conventional optical storage.
An advantage of a holographic memory system is that an entire
page of data can be found quickly and at one time. In order to find and rebuild
the holographic page of data stored in the crystal, the reference beam is struck
into the crystal at precisely the same angle at which it recorded to store that
page of data. Each page of data is stored in a different area of the crystal, based
on the angle at which the reference beam strikes it. During Reconstruction
Period, the beam will be diffracted by the crystal to allow the recreation of
the primary page that was stored. This rebuilt page is then cast onto the
charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, which translates and sends on the digital information
to a computer.
The important component of any holographic data storage system
is the angle at which the second reference beam is fired at the crystal to find
a page of data. It must match the primary reference beam angle exactly. A divergence
of just a thousandth of a millimetre will lead to failure in finding that page of
data
Holographic storage uses laser beams to store
computer-generated data in three dimensions. The idea is to use this type of technology
to store computer data. The goal is to store a lot of data in a smaller space. In
the predictable future, the technology is anticipated to bear storage capacities
up to a terabyte in drives the same physical size as prevailing ones.
Though no one has still mass-commercialized this technology, numerous vendors are working on it. InPhase Technologies, which was founded by Lucent, is working at a product capable of storing two hundred GBs of data, written fourfold quicker than the speed of current DVD drives. Though current versions are not rewritable, the company expects to make holographic storage that can be rewritten within the next few years.
The first products are likely to be expensive,
and only practicable for large administrations with extraordinary needs for memory.
However, marketers anticipate to make holographic storage available and affordable
for the average consumer within the next few years.
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