Side-scattering properties of a novel waveguide multilayer memory

Abstract

The signal of a novel waveguide multilayer memory ͑WMM͒ is the side-scattered beam emitted from information pits. Side scattering plays a key role in the data readout of the WMM. In this paper, a model is proposed to investigate the side-scattering properties of the WMM. We not only theoretically and experimentally confirm the exponential attenuation distribution of the side-emission scattered light intensity of a waveguide with constant attenuation coefficient, but also deduce an expression for the relation between the attenuation coefficient and the light propagation distance of a waveguide with distributed attenuation coefficient when the side-scattered light intensity is uniform. Furthermore, a possible method to realize the uniformity of the side-emitted light intensity is demonstrated. These results will contribute to the improvement of the performance of the WMM.