how holographic data storage works

For holographic data encoding, first a laser ray is divided in two. Then one of the resulting rays is passed through a Spatial Light Modulator that converts configurations of electronic information into white and black configurations in the laser ray. This beam becomes the "signal" ray. The second ray becomes the "reference" beam. Then the two beams are focused and intersected inside an optically sensitive storage media. This intersection initiates a chemical reaction between the media and the interference configuration of the two rays of light. This burns the data into the media in the form of a hologram. To restore the data, a beam with the same wavelength and angle as the original reference ray is shone into the storage media, the signal beam is retrieved, and the light and dark patterns are converted back into electronic information via the use of a Digital Camera Detector (DCD). Three-dimensional holotechnology data storage can save much more information in a given space compared to surface-only, data storage systems such as present day CDs and DVDs. Linked page Holoshop also reports such matters.

Holotech information may be stored and accessed more promptly than spinning magnetic media because laser rays, without the inertia of mechanical reading and writing mechanisms, can be moved very quickly. Virtual Home Network for additional holotech info.

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