Two-Stage Optical Data Storage in Azo Polymers

Abstract

We have demonstrated two-stage optical memory in a photoaddressable azo polymer. The polymer serves as a data storage medium with two recording mechanisms: photoanisotropic modulation and surface-shape modulation. We can select the recording mechanism by manipulating beam energies for recording. The characteristics can be motivated to rewritable and write-once optical memories: polarization-multiplex bit memories, surface-modulated bit memories and surface-modulated holographic memories.