Electron trapping: a new approach to rewritable optical data storage
P. F. Goldsmith, J. Lindmayer, Charles Y. Wrigley · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1990
A new approach to rewritable optical data storage is under development which has the potential for satisfying all of the key requirements for a dynamic on-line data storage system including removability, high data density, high speed and long cycle life. The approach utilizes an electron-trapping (ETTM) storage media consisting of alkaline earth crystals doped with rare-earth elements. Thin crystalline films of these media deposited on disk substrates can store information in the form of trapped electrons. The information is written, read, and erased entirely.