We present an overview of our research effort on volume holographic digital data storage. Innovations, developments, and new insights gained in the design and operation of working storage platforms, novel optical components and techniques, data coding and signal processing algorithms, systems tradeoffs, materials testing and tradeoffs, and photon-gated storage materials are summarized.

Holographic data storage

An encrypted optical memory system using double random phase codes in the Fresnel domain is proposed. In this system, two random phase codes and their positions form three-dimensional keys for encryption of images and are used as keys to recover the original data. The third dimension is the positions of the codes, which can have as many as three degrees of freedom. Original images encrypted by use of the two phase codes located in the Fresnel domain are stored holographically in a photorefractive material. We demonstrate in preliminary experiments encryption and decryption of optical memory in a LiNbO3:Fe photorefractive crystal by use of angular multiplexing.

Encrypted optical memory system using three-dimensional keys in the Fresnel domain.

Research into and the development of data storage devices is a race to keep up with the continuing demand for more capacity, more density, and faster readout rates. Improvements in conventional memory technologies-magnetic hard disk drives, optical disks, and semiconductor memories-have managed to keep pace with the demand for bigger, faster memories. However, there is strong evidence that these two-dimensional surface storage technologies are approaching fundamental limits. An alternative approach for next-generation memories is to store data in three dimensions. This article describes developments in holographic 3D memories, in which high density is achieved by superimposing many holograms within the same volume of recording material. Holographic storage is a promising candidate for next-generation storage. Research has demonstrated that holographic storage systems with desirable properties can be engineered. The next step is to build these systems at costs competitive with those of existing technologies and to optimize the storage media.

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Optical apparatus includes first and second diffractive optical elements (DOEs) arranged in series to diffract an input beam of radiation. The first DOE is configured to apply to the input beam a pattern with a specified divergence angle, while the second DOE is configured to split the input beam into a matrix of output beams with a specified fan-out angle. The divergence and fan-out angles are chosen so as to project the radiation onto a region in space in multiple adjacent instances of the pattern.

Optical pattern projection

Optical apparatus includes a beam source, which is configured to generate an optical beam having a pattern imposed thereon. A projection lens is configured to receive and project the optical beam so as to cast the pattern onto a first area in space having a first angular extent. A field multiplier is interposed between the projection lens and the first area and is configured to expand the projected optical beam so as to cast the pattern onto a second area in space having a second angular extent that is at least 50% greater than the first angular extent.

Projectors of structured light

A laser (11) utilizes feedback from a volume holographic (12) grating used as a wavelength standard to lock the laser output wavelength to its desired value. This feedback can be non-optical, wherein the holographic filter output is used to actively control the wavelength through an external control mechanism. This feedback can also be optical, wherein a volume hologram reflection grating is used to generate optical feedback into the laser gain.

Wavelength stabilized laser sources using feedback from volume holograms

A new approach to holographic storage that uses lensless phase-conjugate holograms is proposed and demonstrated. Near-field holography is used for data recording, and a phase-conjugate reference beam is used for data retrieval. The data array can be directly transferred from the storage medium to the sensor without the need for imaging optics. It is shown that large space -bandwidth product holographic images (N x N x 10(6)) with pixel sizes of a few micrometers are feasible with a reasonable-sized recording material.

Compact read-only memory with lensless phase-conjugate holograms

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Self-Enhancement of Dynamic Gratings in Photogalvanic Crystals

Substantial improvements in photorefractive device lifetimes are provided by control of electron migration which results in the decay of gratings in photorefractive materials due to diffusion and other effects. A new class of photorefractive devices using compensating electronic and ionic gratings having relatively low efficiency but nonetheless usable gratings is provided by arranging the gratings to be reflective in a wavelength band outside the photo-excitation band of the photorefractive material, as by using an infrared operating wavelength. Longer lifetimes in high efficiency gratings are achieved by constant or periodic illumination of photorefractive materials to assure uniform charged distribution of electrons and maintenance of the ionic backbone grating.

Fabrication and applications of long-lifetime, holographic gratings in photorefractive materials

We present experimental results on the photorefractive two-beam coupling constant and response time of two Cr-doped strontium barium niobate crystals with different dopant concentrations. Both showed significantly faster response times over Ce-doped SBN:60, but with corresponding decreases in their coupling constants.

Koichi Sayano

Papers

Wavelength stabilized laser sources using feedback from volume holograms

Compact read-only memory with lensless phase-conjugate holograms

Self-Enhancement of Dynamic Gratings in Photogalvanic Crystals

Fabrication and applications of long-lifetime, holographic gratings in photorefractive materials

Photorefractive gain and response time of Cr‐doped strontium barium niobate