A novel polymeric optical storage medium

Many organic and polymeric optical storage media have been developed in the past decade, some to the level of commercial realisation. They promise a number of advantages over first generation metal based media, including low cost; flexibility, both literally and in format options; high write sensitivity; simple fabrication processes; applications `tuning´ by molecular engineering; and low toxicity. PA Consulting Group are currently developing a novel polymeric film optical storage material in their Cambridge Technology Laboratory that promises all of these advantages, together with a number of unique features which, PA believe, show greater commercial potential. This paper describes some of the characteristics of the medium, possible commercial applications and PA´s market-oriented development approach