Bit error sources in 3D optical memory: experiments and models

Albert F. Lawrence; Jeffrey A. Stuart; Deepak L. Singh; Robert R. Birge

doi:10.1117/12.330425

5 November 1998 Bit error sources in 3D optical memory: experiments and models

Albert F. Lawrence, Jeffrey A. Stuart, Deepak L. Singh, Robert R. Birge

Proceedings Volume 3468, Advanced Optical Memories and Interfaces to Computer Storage; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.330425
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The photoactive protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), may be used as the recording medium in optical three-dimensional memories. Experiments with a sequential, one-photon read/write scheme have shown promising results. In this scheme a planar laser beam activates a narrow slice of the medium, so that the bit patterns of the slice can be read independently of the rest of the memory. This gives rise to a paged memory architecture with approximately 100 Megabytes/page. Experimental images taken of the activated pages show bit patterns subject to degradation, which may be attributed to intensity variations within the activation beam. These intensity gradients are believed to be the result of refraction within the memory page. Writing a bit in the memory changes the index of refraction within the activated memory volume illuminated by the write beam. Bit error rates are directly related to the proportion of 0s and 1s written into the memory page, with minimum error rates recorded at a 50/50 ratio. In addition to experiments with prototype BR memories, we report on a computer model for the activation phase of the memory read cycle. This model may be used to study various schemes for placing the bits within a memory page and ensuring that the distribution of 0s and 1s is uniform.

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Albert F. Lawrence, Jeffrey A. Stuart, Deepak L. Singh, and Robert R. Birge "Bit error sources in 3D optical memory: experiments and models", Proc. SPIE 3468, Advanced Optical Memories and Interfaces to Computer Storage, (5 November 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.330425

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