Chinese scientists are developing an optical disc with a potential data storage capacity of 200 terabytes in the size of a DVD. This breakthrough is achieved by storing data in three dimensions across 100 layers on the disc.
1.6 million gigabits on the size of a DVD disc
The key innovation lies in recording data in dots just 54 nanometers wide, significantly smaller than the wavelength of visible light used for reading and writing. A disc the size of a DVD could hold up to 1.6 million gigabits (200 terabytes) of data, surpassing the data density of Blu-ray discs and modern hard drives.
Professor Min Gu of Shanghai Science and Technology University envisions this technology revolutionizing data centers, potentially reducing the size of a one billion gigabit facility from a stadium to a room.
Search for suitable material took 10 years
The researchers utilized a new light-sensitive material called AIE-DDPR to write and read data on the disc using different laser pairs. Over a decade of research led to the discovery of this material, which demonstrated consistent writing quality across micrometer-spaced layers.
Good prospects for the medium
While the focus is currently on data centers, the researchers believe the production process is efficient enough for commercial use. The discs can be mass-produced in just 6 minutes, opening up possibilities for wider consumption. Further research aims to enhance writing speed and reduce energy consumption.
This breakthrough was published in the journal Nature on February 21, 2024.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
