For the first time in the history of the multi-billion-dollar data storage industry, the conventional technology cannot be further scaled because of the fundamental limits of the materials. Specifically, superparamagnetism limits memory density in conventional technology.

Heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is believed to be one of the most promising alternative technologies  developed in order to pack more memory into less space. The success of HAMR and other optical storage technologies depends on having a means to focus light in nanoscale spots with adequate intensity to record data. Currently, methods exist to focus lasers on small spot sizes, but these techniques do not deliver adequate power. 

Researchers at the University of California have developed a near field optical system capable of delivering light into a spot with a diameter of less than 30 nm and power values of above 100 nW. Furthermore, this technology is scalable down to a 5-nm diameter spot. The device is simple to manufacture using existing technology.

The images above depict the UC nanolaser focused on an aluminum coated probe and the corresponding near-field intensity distribution of the spot. 

UC’s nanolaser could enable recording media with areal densities of greater than 10 terabits per square inch. With this technology the entire library of Congress could be carried in your wrist watch. The nanolaser could be used in various memory applications such as HAMR, protein based memory, and 3-dimensional multilevel recording. Additionally, the nanolaser could be used in future nanooptic or nanophotonics application such as optical interconnects to replace contacts and wires in future electronics, nanolasers for medical applications for ultra-precise diagnostics and surgery.

File Number: 18961 

Web site: http://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/...