New Data Storage Breakthrough: Microsoft Research Scientists Develop Silica System for Storing Two Million Books in Glass
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at Microsoft Research in the United States have unveiled a revolutionary system called Silica that allows for writing and reading information in ordinary glass. This cutting-edge technology has the capacity to store two million books’ worth of data in a thin, palm-sized square of glass. Published in Nature, the researchers behind this innovation have stated that their tests indicate the data stored in Silica can remain readable for more than 10,000 years.
The Silica system utilizes ultrashort flashes of laser light to inscribe bits of information into a block of standard glass. These pulses, lasting mere quadrillionths of a second (also known as femtoseconds), are so brief that they can be used to generate even shorter bursts of light lasting attoseconds (a thousandth of a femtosecond or 10^-18 seconds). These attosecond bursts have the unique capability to observe the movement of electrons inside atoms and molecules, an achievement that was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2023.
The practical application of femtosecond laser pulses allows for changes to be made deep within transparent materials like glass. By tightly focusing these ultrashort pulses on a specific region, an intense electric field is produced, altering the molecular structure of the glass in the focal zone. This process creates tiny three-dimensional volumes known as “voxels,” which can store data at precisely controlled positions within the glass.
While the concept of using laser-written voxels for three-dimensional data storage is not new, the Silica project represents a comprehensive demonstration of a practical, real-world technology. The team has integrated all key elements of a storage platform based on femtosecond lasers and glass, including encoding data, writing, reading, decoding, and error correction. Their work explores strategies for reliability, writing speed, energy efficiency, and data density, with systematic assessments of data lifetime.
Silica has examined two main types of laser-written voxels: elongated void-like features created by laser-driven micro-explosions inside the glass and subtle changes in the local refractive index of the glass. These methods offer high storage densities and faster writing speeds, with the potential for stable data storage lasting over 10,000 years.
As ultrafast lasers continue to advance, the potential for dense, fast, and energy-efficient archival data storage opens up new possibilities for the future. This breakthrough in data storage technology highlights the exciting applications of ultrafast photonics and paves the way for further innovations in the field. Exciting times lie ahead as we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with cutting-edge laser technology. A revolutionary new data storage technology is on the horizon, promising to change the way we store and access information. Scientists have developed a glass square that has the potential to store vast amounts of data for millions of years. This innovative square, known as the “Superman memory crystal,” is made of nanostructured glass that can store up to 360 terabytes of data.
The Superman memory crystal is not only capable of storing a massive amount of data, but it also has the potential to last for millions of years. This is a significant advancement in the field of data storage, as current storage methods such as hard drives and flash drives have a limited lifespan. The ability to store data for such a long period of time could have profound implications for preserving important historical and cultural information.
The process of storing data on the Superman memory crystal is also incredibly simple and efficient. A femtosecond laser is used to encode data onto the glass square, creating three layers of nanoscale dots within the glass. These dots can be read using an optical microscope and a polarizer, allowing for easy retrieval of stored data.
One of the key advantages of the Superman memory crystal is its durability. Unlike traditional storage methods that can degrade over time, the glass square is resistant to environmental factors such as heat, moisture, and light. This means that data stored on the crystal will remain intact for millions of years, making it an ideal solution for long-term archival storage.
In addition to its durability, the Superman memory crystal also offers a high level of security. The data stored on the crystal is encoded in 3D, making it extremely difficult for unauthorized users to access or tamper with the information. This makes the crystal an ideal choice for storing sensitive or confidential data that needs to be protected from unauthorized access.
Overall, the Superman memory crystal represents a major breakthrough in data storage technology. Its ability to store vast amounts of data for millions of years, combined with its durability and security features, make it a promising solution for long-term archival storage. As researchers continue to refine and improve this innovative technology, we can expect to see even more advancements in the field of data storage in the years to come.
