5D optical data storage

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5D optical data storage is an experimental nanostructured glass for permanently recording digital data using a femtosecond laser writing process. It is also branded Superman memory crystal, in reference to the Kryptonian memory crystals from the Superman franchise. Discs using this technology could be capable of storing up to 360 terabytes worth of data (at the largest size, 12 cm discs) for billions of years. The technology was developed by University of Southampton professor Peter Kazansky, who experimentally demonstrated the technology in 2013. The technology has been commercialized by SPhotonix, which markets it under the name 5D Memory Crystal. Hitachi and Microsoft have researched glass-based optical storage techniques, the latter under the name Project Silica. The "5-dimensional" descriptor is because, unlike marking only on the surface of a 2D piece of paper or magnetic tape, this method of encoding uses two optical dimensions and three spatial co-ordinates to write throughout the...

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