THERMOMECHANICAL DATA STORAGE

Abstract

In the future, the current method of magnetically storing data may reach its limit of maximum achievable density. Hence we need a data storage technology which has high storage capacity and is small in size. The solution is Thermomechanical data storage. Thermomechanical Data Storage is a data storage scheme in which nanometer sized pits on a plastic disc represent digital data. This data storage concept combines ultrahigh density, terabit capacity, small form factor and high data rates. By using this concept, we will be able to store the equivalent of 25 DVDs on a surface the size of a postage stamp. IBM scientists have demonstrated a data storage density of a trillion bits per square inch - 20 times higher than the densest magnetic storage available today. IBM achieved this remarkable density -- enough to store 25 million printed textbook pages on a surface the size of a postage stamp -- in a research project codenamed "Millipede". Millipede uses thousands of nano-sharp tips to punch indentations representing individual bits into a thin plastic film. The result is akin to a nanotech version of the venerable data processing 'punch card' developed more than 110 years ago, but with two crucial differences: the 'Millipede' technology is re-writeable, and may be able to store more than 3 billion bits its of data in the space occupied by just one hole in a standard punch card ii