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Five-dimensional optical recording mediated by surface plasmons in gold nanorods

Nature volume 459, pages 410–413 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Multiplexed optical recording provides an unparalleled approach to increasing the information density beyond 1012 bits per cm3 (1 Tbit cm-3) by storing multiple, individually addressable patterns within the same recording volume. Although wavelength1,2,3, polarization4,5,6,7,8 and spatial dimensions9,10,11,12,13 have all been exploited for multiplexing, these approaches have never been integrated into a single technique that could ultimately increase the information capacity by orders of magnitude. The major hurdle is the lack of a suitable recording medium that is extremely selective in the domains of wavelength and polarization and in the three spatial domains, so as to provide orthogonality in all five dimensions. Here we show true five-dimensional optical recording by exploiting the unique properties of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of gold nanorods. The longitudinal SPR exhibits an excellent wavelength and polarization sensitivity, whereas the distinct energy threshold required for the photothermal recording mechanism provides the axial selectivity. The recordings were detected using longitudinal SPR-mediated two-photon luminescence, which we demonstrate to possess an enhanced wavelength and angular selectivity compared to conventional linear detection mechanisms. Combined with the high cross-section of two-photon luminescence, this enabled non-destructive, crosstalk-free readout. This technique can be immediately applied to optical patterning, encryption and data storage, where higher data densities are pursued.

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Figure 1: Sample structure and patterning.
Figure 2: Photothermal patterning.
Figure 3: Readout using two-photon luminescence.
Figure 4: Five-dimensional patterning and readout.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the LINTEC Corporation for supplying the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the Australian Research Council for financial support. We thank R. Evans, W. Rowlands and D. Buso for carefully reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Micro-Photonics, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia ,

    Peter Zijlstra, James W. M. Chon & Min Gu

Authors
  1. Peter Zijlstra
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  2. James W. M. Chon
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  3. Min Gu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James W. M. Chon.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

This file contains Supplementary Methods and Data, Supplementary Figures 1-8 with Legends and Supplementary References. (PDF 605 kb)

Supplementary Movie

This movie shows two-state polarization multiplexed images in three layers, read out in one shot using a CCD and a white light source. (MOV 1440 kb)

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Zijlstra, P., Chon, J. & Gu, M. Five-dimensional optical recording mediated by surface plasmons in gold nanorods. Nature 459, 410–413 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08053

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