Optimum design of optical storage media for drive compatibility

Interchangeability standards for writable optical data storage media allow considerable range in the design of media and optical devices. Naturally, the most reliable system performance occurs when the media design is made fully compatible with the particular characteristics of the drive. This paper treats design of the thin film structure of magneto-optical media for optimum readout compatibility with the drive. The methodology centers on maximization of system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under general conditions of system noise composition. We present simple models for the behavior of the various noise components in optical disk drives-medium, laser, shot, electronic. The total system noise model is supplied with relative component weights derived from experimental noise decomposition measurements on the physical system (drive or tester). By changing the relative weights of system noise components, one can readily identity optimum medium designs under different conditions of noise dominance