Holographic data storage systems

• Published in: Proceedings of the IEEE Vol. 92; no. 8; pp. 1231 - 1280
• Main Authors: Hesselink, L., Orlov, S.S., Bashaw, M.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-08-2004; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Data retrieval; Data storage; Data storage systems; Disk recording; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Gratings; Holograms; Holography; Information retrieval; Magnetic and optical mass memories; Media; Memory; Photorefractive materials; Photovoltaic systems; Recording; Recording and replay of audio and video signals; Searching; Signal processing; Signal to noise ratio; Storage and reproduction of information; Multiplexing; Photorefractive material; High density; Data storage; Diffraction gratings; Holographic storage; Coding; gratings; Recording density; Optical material; Recording material; high density data storage; photopolymer media; Optical memory; holographic recording materials; optical storage materials; Storage system; Polymer; Information retrieval; volumetric data storage; Digital storage; Reading; Signal restoration; holographic data storage; photorefractive media; Holographic grating; holography; Recording; Signal to noise ratio; optical data storage
• ISSN: 0018-9219; 1558-2256
• DOI: 10.1109/JPROC.2004.831212

In this paper, we discuss fundamental issues underlying holographic data storage: grating formation, recording and readout of thick and thin holograms, multiplexing techniques, signal-to-noise ratio considerations, and readout techniques suitable for conventional, phase conjugate, and associative search data retrieval. Next, we consider holographic materials characteristics for digital data storage, followed by a discussion on photorefractive media, fixing techniques, and noise in photovoltaic and other media with a local response. Subsequently, we discuss photopolymer materials, followed by a discussion on system tradeoffs and a section on signal processing and en/decoding techniques, succeeded by a discussion on electronic implementations for control, signal encoding, and recovery. We proceed further by presenting significant demonstrations of digital holographic systems. We close by discussing the outlook for future holographic data storage systems and potential applications for which holographic data storage systems would be particularly suited.