What Is 5D Data Storage How Does It Works

Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a data storage technology, which uses quartz crystals to store data by a process called femtosecond laser printing, which uses a specialized lazer to print data into the crystals. According to the scientists a single piece of the crystal can store upto 360 terabytes of data for as ling as 13.6 billion years and can withstand temperature upto 176 degree Celsius.

How Does It Works-

The 5D technology uses a femtosecond laser which fires pulses through the quartz crystal, which thus alters the composition of the 3d structure and creates three layers of a tiny physical dot called nanograting which changes how light is reflected through the structure. These dots are used to store information and these changed reflection of light can be read using a optical microscope and a polarizer.  

Inserting Data To Crystals-

Why Its called 5D-

This new technology of data storage is referred to as 5D data storage, because the first three dimensions are the position of the dots in the layers, that is the x, y and z axis and the 4th and 5th dimensions are the size and orientation of the dots. Thus these extra dimensions give this data storage technology an edge over the previous technologies in terms of capacity.

Future Possibilities- 

This method of data storage was first demonstrated in 2013 in paper and since then scientists have worked to perfect this technology. According to them anything can be securely stored onto the crystals and they can be soon commercialized through funding .