Two-photon Recording and Plasmon-Enhanced Read-Out of Three-Dimensional Optical Disk with Ten Recording Layers

A novel recording medium for three-dimensional multilayered memory is proposed. The memory medium can store digital data as a fluorescent pattern by two-photon-induced gold-ion reduction, and stored data can be read-out with a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) by the field enhancement of surface plasmon resonance on gold nanoparticles. Using this memory material, a multilayered disk with 10 recording layers separated by transparent buffer layers is fabricated, and storing and retrieving data without any significant crosstalk from the adjacent recording layers are demonstrated. The stability and durability of the memory material against reading light irradiation is also examined and discussed. (C) 2011 The Japan Society of Applied Physics