Near-field magneto-optics and high density data storage

Abstract

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) has been used to image and record domains in thin-film magneto-optic (MO) materials. In the imaging mode, resolution of 30–50 nm has been consistently obtained, whereas in the recording mode, domains down to ∼60 nm have been written reproducibly. Data densities of ∼45 Gbits/in.2 have been achieved, well in excess of current magnetic or MO technologies. A brief analysis of speed and other issues indicates that the technique may represent a viable alternative to these and other methods for anticipated high density data storage needs.

Optical storage arrays: a perspective for future big data storage

“…36,37 However, these approaches do not exhibit the ability to record information in the volume of a medium. Recently, inspired by a diffraction-unlimited far-field imaging approach, 38 scientists have developed super-resolution photoinduction-inhibition nanolithography (SPIN), which can break the diffraction barrier and achieve 3D super-resolved writing.…”

NSOMS characterization of semiconductors and related materials

“…NSOM has been widely applied to surface chemistry and biological molecular imaging (2). More recently there has been a surge of effort in using NSOM in solid state research and applications, such as near-field spectroscopy and imaging of quantum electronic structures (3,4), nanofabrication (5) and magneto-optical data storage [6]. However, there is much less effort in applying NSOM to practical microelectronic materials and devices (7) and turning this technique into powerful characterization tool in semiconductor industries.…”

Near-field magneto-optical imaging in scanning tunneling microscopy

“…Several techniques are being explored and improved to obtain highresolution magnetic imaging; detection of magnetic stray field by magnetic force microscopy 1 or a Hall probe, 2 spinpolarized tunneling using a magnetic tip, 3 near-field magneto-optics, where a subwavelength aperture or probe is used to locally detect the interaction of polarized light with a magnetic sample, 4,5 and tunneling-excited emission of polarized photons. 6 Growing attention is being paid to the use of optical interactions, in which case the scanning probe can be nonmagnetic and thus nonintrusive.…”