All-optical phase-change memory in a single gallium nanoparticle

Soares, Bruno F., Jonsson, Fredrik and Zheludev, Nikolay I. (2007) All-optical phase-change memory in a single gallium nanoparticle. Physical Review Letters, 98 (15), 153905-[4pp]. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.153905).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We report on the first demonstration of a quaternary-logical resonatorless optical memory element with information encoded in the structural phase of a single 80 nm gallium nanoparticle. The size of the memory element is comparable with bits in next-generation hard disks, and radically smaller than previously suggested memories exploiting optical resonators. Furthermore, the energy required for switching the nanoparticle is an order of magnitude less than needed in DVD, DVR, or hard disk technologies.

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Published date: 10 April 2007

Additional Information: The paper has been reviewed in the following publications: 1. Bit by bit, by bit. Research Highlights Nature Photonics 1(6), 310-311 (2007) 2. New look for optical data storage.B. Dumé optics.org, 16 May 2007 3. New look for optical data storage. B. Dumé nanotechweb.org, 14 May 2007 4. Nano memory. S. Lamond Wessex Scene, 30 April 2007 5. Memory devices: Just a phase. A. Sandhu Nature Nanotechn., 20 April 2007 6. Four states are better than two. J. Sherwood Physical Review Focus , 20 April 2007 7. Single gallium nanoparticle displays optical phase-change memory. S. Trohalaki MRS Bulletin 32, 528 (2007)

Keywords: nanophotonics, nanoparticle, phase change, memory

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