New developments in holographic storage materials

The potential for dramatic increases in storage density and data transfer rates makes holographic storage very attractive for the next generation optical storage technique. However, over two decades of research has yet to produce a truly viable optical material that meets all of the key metrics for commercial holographic media. We present a recently developed dye-doped thermoplastic that has the potential to revolutionize holographic storage. It is compatible with existing media disc molding techniques while also allowing for data to be written in a volumetric approach using holographic methods. More specifically, this paper will outline a predictive modeling approach used during the materials development phase to optimize key material parameters. The modeling technique is based on the Kramers-Kronig relationship enables the optically-induced refractive index changes to be calculated from absorption spectra measurements.