Nondestructive readout of photochromic optical memory using photocurrent detection

Abstract

We proposed and demonstrated a nondestructive readout method using photocurrent detection for photon-mode photochromic memory. The principle of this readout method, which utilized the ionization potential change according to photoisomerzation reaction, was confirmed by using a medium with a photochromic diarylethene layer and phthalocyanine photoabsorbing layer, and by using a near-infrared readout light. We demonstrated perfect nondestructive readout operations over 106 times.