Holographic random access memory (HRAM)

Author

Chuang, Ernest ; Liu, Wenhai ; Drolet, Jean-Jacques P. ; Psaltis, Demetri

Author_Institution

California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

87

Issue

11

fYear

1999

fDate

11/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1931

Lastpage

1940

Abstract

We examine the present state of holographic random access memory (HRAM) systems and address the primary challenges that face this technology, specifically size, speed, and cost. We show that a fast HRAM system can be implemented with a compact architecture by incorporating conjugate readout, a smart-pixel array, and a linear array of laser diodes. Preliminary experimental results support the feasibility of this architecture. Our analysis shows that in order for the HRAM to become competitive, the principal tasks will be to reduce spatial light modulator (SLM) and detector pixel sizes to 1 μm, increase the output power of compact visible-wavelength lasers to several hundred milliwatts, and develop ways to raise the sensitivity of holographic media to the order of 1 cm/J

Keywords

holographic storage; integrated memory circuits; random-access storage; semiconductor laser arrays; semiconductor lasers; spatial light modulators; compact architecture; compact visible-wavelength lasers; conjugate readout; cost; detector pixel sizes; fast HRAM system; holographic media sensitivity; holographic random access memory; linear laser diode array; output power; size; smart-pixel array; spatial light modulator; speed; Diode lasers; Holography; Interference; Optical arrays; Phased arrays; Power generation; Power lasers; Random access memory; Saturation magnetization; Semiconductor laser arrays;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/5.796355

Filename

796355