Three-dimensional optical data storage in a fluorescent dye-doped photopolymer

We propose a new, to our knowledge, monolithic multilayer optical storage m edium in which data may be stored through the diffusional redistribution of fluorescent molecules within a polymer host. The active portion of the med ium consists of a photopolymer doped with a fluorescent dye that is polymer ized at the focal point of a high-numerical-aperture lens. We believe that as fluorescent molecules bond to the polymer matrix they become more highly concentrated in the polymerized regions, resulting in the modulated data p attern. Since data readout is based on detection of fluorescence rather tha n index modulation as in other photopolymer-based memories, the problems of media shrinkage and optical scatter are of less concern. An intensity thre shold observed in the recording response of this material due to the presen ce of inhibitor molecules in the photopolymer allows for the three-dimensio nal confinement of recorded bits and therefore multilayer recording. The no nlinear recording characteristics of this material were investigated throug h a simple model of photopolymerization and diffusion and verified experime ntally. Both single-layer and multilayer recordings were demonstrated, (C) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 210.0210, 210.4680, 160.5470.