Researchers from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology have developed a new single-beam multidimensional optical storage technology. The study, published in Nature Photonics, introduces a method where a single 3D storage point can distinguish 1024 states, equivalent to 10 bits of information.
This approach allows a DVD-sized medium to reach a theoretical storage capacity of approximately 0.4 Pb with a data reliability rate exceeding 99.99%. Unlike traditional binary systems that rely on two states, this technology increases capacity by expanding the information density per storage point rather than just shrinking units or adding layers.
The system utilizes a single monochromatic beam for both writing and reading, eliminating the need for complex dual-beam architectures that require precise alignment. Beyond storage, the extra 2 bits available in a 10-bit point can be used for in-situ optical AI training encoding.
Future scaling plans suggest that by reducing the layer spacing from 5 micrometers to 1 micrometer and expanding gray-scale encoding to the ten-thousand level, the theoretical capacity could reach 20 Pb. The research team includes representatives from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Fudan University, and Southeast University.
