Progress of super-resolution near-field structure and its application in optical data storage

Abstract

The era of big data has necessitated the use of ultra-high density optical storage devices. Super-resolution near-field structure (super-RENS), which has successfully surpassed the fundamental optical diffraction limit, is one of the promising next generation high-density optical storage technologies. This technology combines the traditional super-resolution optical disk with a near-field structure, and has the advantages of structural simplicity, strong practicability, and, more importantly, compatibility with the current optical storage pickup. The mask layer in super-RENS functions as the key to realizing super-resolution. Development of suitable materials and stack designs has greatly been improved in the last decade. This paper described several types of super-RENS, such as aperture-type, light scattering center-type, bubble-type, and other types (e.g., WO_xand ZnO), particularly the newly proposed super-RENS technology and research achievements. The paper also reviews the applications of super-RENS in high-density optical data storage in recent years. After analyzing and comparing various types of super-RENS technology, the paper proposes the aperture-type based on the mechanism of nonlinear optics as the most suitable candidate for practical applications in the near future.

Keywords

super-resolution / near-field / mask layer / optical nonlinear / localized surface plasmas

References

[1] Gan F X. Digital Optical Disc Storage Technology. Beijing: Science Press, 1998, 1–10

[2] Hosaka S, Shintani T, Miyamoto M, Hirotsune A, Terao M, Yoshida M, Fujita K, Kämmer S. Nanometer-sized phase-change recording using a scanning near-field optical microscope with a laser diode. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 1996, 35(1B): 443–447

[3] Terris B D, Mamin H J, Rugar D, Studenmund W R, Kino G S. Near-field optical data storage using a solid immersion lens. Applied Physics Letters, 1994, 65(4): 388–390

[4] Tominaga J, Nakano T, Atoda N. An approach for recording and readout beyond the diffraction limit with an Sb thin film. Applied Physics Letters, 1998, 73(15): 2078–2080

[5] Yasuda K, Ono M, Aratani K, Fukumoto A, Kaneko M. Premastered optical disk by superresolution. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 1993, 32(11B): 5210–5213

[6] Lu X M, Wu Y Q, Wang Y, Wei J S. Optical characterization of antimony-based bismuth-doped thin films with different annealing temperatures. Chinese Optics Letters, 2011, 9(10): 102101–102104

[7] Zhang F, Wang Y, Xu W D, Shi H R, Wei J S, Gan F X. High-density read-only memory disc with Ag₁₁In₁₂Sb₅₁Te₂₆ super-resolution mask layer. Chinese Physics Letters, 2004, 21(10): 1973–1975

[8] Lee H S, Lee T S, Lee Y, Kim J, Lee S, Huh J Y, Kim D, Cheong B K. Microstructural and optical analysis of superresolution phenomena due to Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ thin films at blue light regime. Applied Physics Letters, 2008, 93(22): 221108

[9] Assafrao A C, Wachters A J H, Verheijen M, Nugrowati A M, Pereira S F, Urbach H P, Armand M F, Olivier S. Direct measurement of the near-field super resolved focused spot in InSb. Optics Express, 2012, 20(9): 10426–10437

[10] Fuji H, Tominaga J, Men L, Nakano T, Katayama H, Atoda N. A near-field recording and readout technology using a metallic probe in an optical disk. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2000, 39(2B): 980–981

[11] Qu Q L, Wang Y, Gan F X. Numerical analysis and comparison of three metal-oxide-type super-resolution near field structures. Chinese Physics Letters, 2006, 23(12): 3363–3365

[12] Fu Y H, Ho F H, Hsu W C, Tsai S Y, Tsai D P. Nonlinear optical properties of the Au-SiO₂ nanocomposite superresolution near-field thin film. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2004, 43(7B): 5020–5023

[13] Wei J S, Liu J, Xiao M F. Giant optical nonlinearity of silver-doped silicon thin film at low power input: laser triggered cluster resonance. Applied Physics. A, Materials Science & Processing, 2011, 104(4): 1031–1037

[14] Zhao S L, Geng Y Y, Shi H R. Study on super-resolution readout performance of Si-doped Ag film. Acta Optica Sinica, 2012, 32(6): 0631004

[15] Fukaya T, Tominaga J, Nakano T, Atoda N. Optical switching property of a light-induced pinhole in antimony thin film. Applied Physics Letters, 1999, 75(20): 3114–3116

[16] Tsai D P, Lin W C. Probing the near fields of the super-resolution near-field optical structure. Applied Physics Letters, 2000, 77(10): 1413–1415

[17] Simpson R E, Fons P, Wang X, Kolobov A V, Fukaya T, Tominaga J. Non-melting super-resolution near-field apertures in Sb-Te alloys. Applied Physics Letters, 2010, 97(16): 161906

[18] Lu X M, Wu Y Q, Wang Y, Wei J S. Super-resolution readout property of bismuth-doped antimony-based thin film as a functional mask for read-only memory. Applied Physics A, Materials Science & Processing, 2012, 108(4): 765–769

[19] Nakai K, Ohmaki M, Takeshita N, Hyot B, André B, Poupinet L. Bit-error-rate evaluation of super-resolution near-field structure read-only memory discs with semiconductive material InSb. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2010, 49(8): 08KE01

[20] Nakai K, Ohmaki M, Takeshita N, Shinoda M, Hwang I, Lee Y, Zhao H, Kim J, Hyot B, André B, Poupinet L, Shima T, Nakano T, Tominaga J. First playback of high-definition video contents from super-resolution near-field structure optical disc. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2010, 49(8): 08KE02

[21] Nakai K, Ohmaki M, Takeshita N, Hyot B, André B, Poupinet L, Shima T. Super-resolution optical disc with radial density increased by narrowed track pitch corresponding to diffraction limit. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2013, 52(9S2): 09LB03

[22] Wei J S. On the dynamic readout characteristic of nonlinear super-resolution optical storage. Optics Communications, 2013, 291: 143–149

[23] Wei J S, Liu J, Jiao X B. Subwavelength direct laser writing by strong optical nonlinear absorption and melt-ablation threshold characteristics. Applied Physics Letters, 2009, 95(24): 241105

[24] Liu J, Wei J S. Optical nonlinear absorption characteristics of AgInSbTe phase change thin films. Journal of Applied Physics, 2009, 106(8): 083112

[25] Liu J, Liu S, Wei J S. Origin of the giant optical nonlinearity of Sb₂Te₃ phase change materials. Applied Physics Letters, 2010, 97(26): 261903

[26] Liu S, Wei J S, Gan F X. Optical nonlinear absorption characteristics of crystalline Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ thin films. Journal of Applied Physics, 2011, 110(3): 033503

[27] Liu S, Wei J S, Gan F X. Nonlinear absorption of Sb-based phase change materials due to the weakening of the resonant bond. Applied Physics Letters, 2012, 100(11): 111903

[28] Wei J, Liu S, Geng Y, Wang Y, Li X, Wu Y, Dun A. Nano-optical information storage induced by the nonlinear saturable absorption effect. Nanoscale, 2011, 3(8): 3233–3237

[29] Her Y C, Lan Y C, Hsu W C, Tsai S Y. Recording and readout mechanisms of super-resolution near-field structure disk with a silver oxide mask layer. Applied Physics Letters, 2003, 83(11): 2136–2138

[30] Li J M, Shi L P, Miao X S, Lim K G, Yang H X, Tan P K, Chong T C. Near-field characteristics and signal enhancement of super-resolution near-field structure disk with metal nanoparticles. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2006, 45(2B): 1398–1400

[31] Chou Y F C. Comparison of surface plasmon resonance effects between solid silver and silver-shell nanoparticles in active layer of AgO_x-type super-resolution near-field structure. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Photonics Solutions. 2013, 88831E

[32] Huang H, Zhang L, Wang Y, Han X D, Wu Y Q, Zhang Z, Gan F X. Locally formation of Ag nanoparticles in chalcogenide phase change thin films induced by nanosecond laser pulses. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2012, 135(2–3): 467–473

[33] Lin J C, Huang H, Wang Y, Wu Y Q. FDTD analysis of silver-nanoparticle-embedded phase change recording pits. In: Proceedings of SPIE, International Workshop on Information Storage and Ninth International Symposium on Optical Storage. 2012, 878207

[34] Kikukawa T, Nakano T, Shima T, Tominaga J. Rigid bubble pit formation and huge signal enhancement in super-resolution near-field structure disk with platinum-oxide layer. Applied Physics Letters, 2002, 81(25): 4697–4699

[35] Liu Q, Kim J, Fukaya T,Tominaga J. Thermal-induced optical properties of a PdO_x mask layer in an optical data storage system with a superresolution near-field structure. Optics Express, 2003, 11(21): 2646–2653

[36] Liu Q, Tominaga J, Fukaya T. Bubble’s function in the process of readout for PdO_x- and PtO_x-type super-RENS disk. In: Proceedings of SPIE, BioMEMS and Nanotechnology. 2004, 5275

[37] Kim J, Hwang I, Yoon D, Park I, Shin D, Kikukawa T, Shima T, Tominaga J. Super-resolution by elliptical bubble formation with PtO_x and AgInSbTe layers. Applied Physics Letters, 2003, 83(9): 1701–1703

[38] Shima T, Nakano T, Kim J, Tominaga J. Super-RENS disk for blue laser system retrieving signals from polycarbonate substrate side. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2005, 44(5B): 3631–3633

[39] Shima T, Nakano T, Tominaga J. Effect of SiO₂ addition to PtO_x recording layer of super-resolution near-field structure disc. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2007, 46(6B): 3912–3916

[40] Shima T, Yamakawa Y, Tominaga J. Readout durability improvement of super-resolution near-field structure discs with PtO_x-SiO₂ recording and GeNy interfacial layers. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2007, 46(7): L135–L137

[41] Liu Q, Fukaya T, Cao S, Guo C, Zhang Z, Guo Y, Wei J, Tominaga J. Study on readout durability of super-RENS disk. Optics Express, 2008, 16(1): 213–218

[42] Kuwahara M, Shima T, Fons P, Fukaya T, Tominaga J. On a thermally induced readout mechanism in super-resolution optical disks. Journal of Applied Physics, 2006, 100(4): 043106

[43] Kim J, Hwang I, Yoon D, Park I, Shin D, Kuwahara M, Tominaga J.Super-resolution near-field structure with alternative recording and mask materials. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2003, 42(2B): 1014–1017

[44] Lin W C, Kao T S, Chang H H, Lin Y H, Fu Y H, Wu C T, Chen K H, Tsai D P. Study of a super-resolution optical structure: polycarbonate/ZnS-SiO₂/ZnO/ZnS-SiO₂/Ge₂Sb₂Te₅/ZnS-SiO₂. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2003, 42(2B): 1029–1030

[45] Mori G, Yamamoto M, Tajima H, Takamori N, Takahashi A. Energy-gap-induced super-resolution (EG-SR) optical disc using ZnO interference film. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2005, 44(5B): 3627–3630

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61137002, 61178059 and 51172253).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg