Research progress of super-resolution optical data storage

Abstract

With the rapid development of Big Data and artificial intelligence, emerging information technology compels dramatically increasing demands on data information storage. At present, conventional magnetization-based information storage methods generally suffer from technique challenges raised by short lifetime and high energy consumption. Optical data storage technology, in comparison, is well known for its advantages of low energy consumption and high security. However, the disc capacity of optical data storage technology inevitably gets stuck in the physical fundamental barrier-optical diffraction limit. How to break optical diffraction barrier and improve the resolution of optical storage system, thereby increasing the data storage capacity of the optical storage system is the key to incorporating optical storage technology with information technology trend such as big data and cloud computing. In this review, we present the principle of optical storage techniques beyond diffraction-limited and recent progress in high capacity optical data storage, including far field super-resolution three dimensional optical (3D) storage techniques (such as two-photon absorption-based process and saturation stimulated emission depletion fluorescence-inspired approaches) and near field super-resolution two dimensional (2D) optical storage techniques (such as near field scanning probe methods, solid immersion lens approaches, and super-resolution near-field structure methods). Eventually, the here-and-now problems confronted by the super-resolution optical data storage and future development of optical storage technology towards ultra-high capacity optical disc based on optical super-resolution techniques are discussed.