- Uchicago PME scientists develop a new data storage method at the atomic scale
- Your approach uses glass defects to store data such as UNES and zeros.
- Research combines quantum science, optical storage and radiation dosimetry
All digital systems use bits, represented as units and zeros, to store, calculate and manage data. The size of the storage device has long been restricted by the physical scale of the binary data units, but the scientists of the Pritzker Molecular Engineering School of the University of Chicago (Uchicago PME) have presented an intriguing solution.
Its new method for data storage manipulates glass defects at an atomic scale: microscopic spaces where atoms are missing, so they can contain an electric charge, which allows them to designate as “some” and “zeros”, as well as in the storage of binary data.
“It is impossible to find crystals, in nature or artificial crystals, which have no defects,” said Leonardo França, the first author of the study. “Then, what we are doing is take advantage of these defects.”
Bits terabytes in a 1 mm cube
An article detailing the advance has been published in the magazine NanopotonicAs if to develop the memory storage system, the researchers used Ytrio oxide crystals and aggregate ions of proseodimio, an element of the rare earth.
“When the glass absorbs enough energy, releases electrons and holes. And these charges are captured by defects, ”said França. “We can read that information. You can release electrons and we can read information by optical means. ”
This advance is based on interdisciplinary research, combining the principles of quantum science and optical storage. The work is derived from previous studies on radiation dosimeters: devices used to monitor radiation exposure levels in environments such as hospitals and particle accelerators.
“We find a way to integrate solid state physics applied to radiation dosimetry with a research group that works strongly in Quantum, although our work is not exactly quantum,” França said.
“There is a demand for people who are investigating quantum systems, but at the same time, there is a demand to improve the storage capacity of non -volatile classic memories. And it is in this interface between the storage of quantum and optical data where our work is on land. “
“Each memory cell is a single missing atom, a single defect,” said Assistant Professor Tian Zhong of Uchicago Pme. “Now you can pack the terabytes of bits inside a small bucket of material that has only a millimeter size.”
