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How does Holographic Memory Work?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Holographic memory is a crystal or photopolymer-based, next-generation memory storage technology competing with many others for dominance of the future computer memory market. It is currently in the research and development stage, meaning that many successful prototypes have been built, but the technology is still being improved and has not yet been commercialized. Commercialization is expected in late 2006, when both Optware and Maxwell will release variants of the Holographic Versatile Disc capable of containing 200 gigabytes (GB) and 300GB of data, respectively. In a few years, the mature form of the disc is expected to reach the market. This model will hold almost 4 terabytes (TB), or 4000GB, enough to contain 8,700 hours of video.

Like other forms of optical data storage, holographic memory uses lasers to encode data in the medium. However, instead of using a series of pits and grooves to store data, as in a compact disc, holographic memory is encoded as an interference pattern between two lasers. These two lasers are referred to as a the reference beam and the signal beam. The signal beam holds the data, while the reference beam usually stays constant. Because writing to the disc creates a hologram, a complex 3D pattern in the crystal, all it takes is shining a reference beam at the disc at a precise angle for the original image to be projected again.

Woman holding an optical disc
Woman holding an optical disc

Holographic memory technology circumvents the limitations on conventional optical memory storage technologies by making use of inherently three-dimensional holography to encode data, rather than conventional 2D read-and-write-by-laser-beam. This means that the entire volume of the crystal can theoretically be used to encode holographic memory data, though in practice this is not possible. Still, any degree of three-dimensionality is a great advantage for an optical memory storage technology, enough to put holographic memory leaps and bounds ahead of DVD and Blu-Ray technology.

Multiple holograms can be layered on top of one another in the same medium, a quality known as multiplexing. By changing the angle of the reference beam, an entirely new image can be encoded and subsequently projected. Each tiny change to the angle of the crystal can give rise to an entirely new reconstituted holographic image, almost up to the limit of the atoms of the crystal itself to hold information. Holographic memory is a technology that is different-in-kind from what came before it.

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime EasyTechJunkie contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

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Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime EasyTechJunkie contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

SilentBlue

@dbuckley212

But don't we already have three-dimensional movies and shows at our local theaters?

dbuckley212

To design a holographic projector, you would need to have various mirrors, lights, and windows, which would effectively place the viewer and the projection inside the projector itself. This would not be a mere one-directional singly projection like our modern projectors, but would come from many angles to make a 3d experience.

FitzMaurice

A holographic universe would be a unique new step in online role playing games. To interact at a virtual reality level with various players from all over the world would be a unification of ideas on a truly interconnected and interactive internet. We are progressing toward this rather slowly, but it is to be hoped that idealistic entrepreneurs with great ideas will come to push these new concepts forward.

BigBloom

Holographic projection like the kind shown in Star Wars, would revolutionize the way we communicate with people all around the world. This would be taking the experience of video communication and turning it into a three-dimensional and interactive concept.

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    • Woman holding an optical disc
      Woman holding an optical disc