Collaborative Research: Dynamic Mode, High Density, Probe Based Data Storage

University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis MN

Investigators

Abstract

Objective: The need for storing and accessing large amounts of data with the ease of being portable is apparent from the ubiquitous use of small form factor consumer electronics where demands for terabit per inch square areal densities is predicted. Conventional modes of data storage are reaching fundamental limitations on the areal densities achievable. Probe based data storage solutions, based on atomic force microscopy principles employ a force probe that has the resolution to image data at the atomic scale. Information is stored in the form of indentations that are a few square nanometers in area. Probe based high density data storage has the promise of delivering a few terabit per square inch densities in the near term. The dynamic mode probe based data storage platform will be developed under the proposal goals. Intellectual Merit: A real-time model of the probe dynamics will be developed for high density data storage applications. The dynamic mode operation that leads to significantly smaller forces on the media and the probe will be employed as compared to the static mode operation that has been used in previous work. The fundamental tradeoff between the speed of reading the data and the resolution of the read data existing in current dynamic modes is overcome, leading to two orders increase in the detection speed. The physical modelling part of the proposal will provide an appropriate level abstraction of the forces appearing between the probe and media that remains tractable and is sufficient for data storage purposes. The communication system modelling and design objectives part will develop a communication channel model of the data storage system. Efficient and high performance detectors and error control codes will be developed for the system. Broader impacts: The proposal objectives if achieved will directly impact the consumer electronics market and will provide a small form factor high density data storage alternative. Synergistic transfer of know how between the academia and industry by exchanging student visits and presenting specialized workshops will be achieved. A new course on probe based data storage that bridges the know how between the systems and physics communities will be developed.