Spectroscopy and Kinetics of a Molecular Memory with Nondestructive Readout for Use in 2D and 3D Storage Systems

Abstract

A new molecule has been designed, synthesized, and utilized as molecular memory for optical storage capable of write, erase, and readout without simultaneously effacing the stored informtion. This molecule is composed of a photochromic fulgimide and a fluorescent dye bonded, chemically, together to form a single molecule. Experimental spectroscopic studies are performed for each individual component and the composite molecule. The kinetics of the photochromic transformation from the open, nonpolar form to the closed, polar form are discussed. It is also shown that the fluorescence intensity of the dye component is strongly dependent upon the polarity of the fulgimide component. The write/nondestructive readout and erase operations and prototype systems are presented, and a prototype optical disk is described.