Resin Memory

2002/11/13 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Materialak
• Teknologia
• Periferikoak

In fact, in these epoxy resin supports the information is stored in three dimensions, while in DVDs only two dimensions are used. Researchers have been working for a long time to find a way to store information in three dimensions that will increase memory and one of the ways they are testing is based on laser.

Each fluorescent point measures 300 nanometers and has been written with laser pulses on a derivative of phenolphthalein

in a normal pH indicator used in faculties laboratories

In fact, the laser generates concrete points in the materials. At these points, chemical changes occur that when they are resubmitted to the laser emit fluorescence. This way you can save and read the information. This process is called multiphoton absorption, as three photons are needed to make a fluorescent point. However, most of the materials used in the development of this optical memory are destroyed when the data is read or a very expensive laser is needed.

However, researchers at Boston University in the US have been able to overcome this problem. During the multifotonal absorption test with cheap materials, epoxy resins were suitable. It seems that the use of epoxy resins allows to read more than a million times the data stored in fluorescent points without destroying the material. In addition, the support does not have to have disk shape, it can be any other way.

Technology yet to be developed. At the moment, it has a big obstacle: it takes a lot to burn the data; it takes 3 weeks to save the information collected by a double DVD. However, they also hope to overcome this barrier and consider that they will be suitable for use in those places where it is necessary to collect many data (hospitals, administration, etc. ).