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All-Optical Phase-Change Memory in a Single Gallium Nanoparticle

Bruno F. Soares, Fredrik Jonsson, and Nikolay I. Zheludev
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 153905 – Published 10 April 2007
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Abstract

We report on the first demonstration of a quaternary-logical resonatorless optical memory element with information encoded in the structural phase of a single 80 nm gallium nanoparticle. The size of the memory element is comparable with bits in next-generation hard disks, and radically smaller than previously suggested memories exploiting optical resonators. Furthermore, the energy required for switching the nanoparticle is an order of magnitude less than needed in DVD, DVR, or hard disk technologies.

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  • Received 30 October 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.153905

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Bruno F. Soares, Fredrik Jonsson, and Nikolay I. Zheludev*

  • Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom

  • *Email address: n.i.zheludev@soton.ac.uk Electronic address: www.nanophotonics.org.uk/niz

See Also

Four States are Better than Two

Jonathan Sherwood
Phys. Rev. Focus 19, 12 (2007)

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Issue

Vol. 98, Iss. 15 — 13 April 2007

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