The future of optical recording

Summary form only given. The optical recording technologies currently available are reviewed, and a brief summary of the principles which govern their performance is given. Possible improvements in three key performance areas are addressed. These areas are the data storage density (currently near 100 Mb/cm/sup 2/), the data rate, and the access time. Such improvements require new developments in all of the subsystems of optical recording: lasers, optics, servo systems, electronics, and media. A review of these new developments is given, and the feasibility of combining the individual innovations to produce highly advanced systems is discussed.<
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